A funeral Mass for Father David A. Walter was to be celebrated Sept. 8 in the St. Vincent de Paul Chapel at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury. Father Walter, 80 died Sept. 1.
In recent years, the retired parish priest and Newman Center chaplain has been known as a chaplain for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. In an article in the Review, he cited the strong faith of those he met in baseball. He celebrated Sunday Mass in the clubhouse, attended by front-office staff and stadium staff, from ticket-takers to the maintenance crew.
A native of St. Louis, Father Walter was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter in 1963. His first assignment was as assistant pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in St. Louis and to teach at Providence High School. He was named assistant pastor of Immacolata Parish in Richmond Heights in 1966 and associate pastor of Sts. John and James Parish in Ferguson in 1969.
Father Walter was named to staff the Office of Vocations of the archdiocese in 1973. He was named part-time associate pastor of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish in Jennings in 1975 and Sacred Heart Parish in Festus in 1976. He was named full time there in 1977 and resident Newman Center chaplain at Washington University’s Medical Center in 1978. Four years later, he was named campus minister at St. Louis Community College campuses at Forest Park and Meramec as well as director of the Newman Medical Center campus.
In 1989, Father Walter was appointed pastor of St. Timothy Parish in Affton. He moved to the Regina Cleri residence for retired priests in 1998.
Father Walter served as chaplain for the Catholic Alumni Club from 1967-81, serving on the local, regional and international level.
Survivors include two sisters, Joan Seiwald and Diane Marchiando. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery.
