Walter B. O'Malley

Walter B. O'Malley, age 88, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, at the Anderson County Hospital in Garnett. Walt was born on August 27, 1922, in Kingman County, Kansas, the son of Daniel and Magdalena (Miller) O'Malley. He lived in Kingman County until age 15, when his family moved to Waverly, Kansas. Walt then attended Waverly High School. He entered the service during World War II; he served in the European Theatre and was a part of the D-Day invasion at Normandy. He received a Purple Heart for his injury during battle; he also received the Bronze Star. He was united in marriage to Jo Ann Haag on June 12, 1950 at Sacred Heart Church in Ottawa, Kansas. This union was blessed with eight children. Following his time in the service, Walt returned to the family farm before going to work as a mechanic at a local car dealership, then to John Deere, where he worked for over 25 years, retiring in 1983. After retiring from John Deere he worked for Caldwell Farms. He was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, and the V.F.W. He enjoyed fishing, reading, and traveling on bus trips, but most of all he loved his grandchildren. Walt was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Lena O'Malley; father and mother-in-law, Frank and Georgia Haag; three brothers, Robert, Lee, and Emmett O'Malley; and daughter, Kathy O'Malley. He is survived by his wife, of sixty years, Jo Ann O'Malley of Garnett; four daughters, Sr. Lois O'Malley CSJ of Manhattan, Kansas; Carol Kane and companion, Earl Johnson, of Derby, Kansas; Margie Bunnel and husband Russ of Welda, Kansas; Rose Mary Carson of Naperville, Illinois; three sons, James O'Malley of Parsons, Kansas; Daniel O'Malley of Wichita, Kansas; Paul "Joe" O'Malley of Wichita, Kansas; six grandchildren, Erin Hendry and husband Justin of Haysville, Kansas; Jennifer Morrow of Garnett, Kansas; Eric Bunnel and wife Kristin of Merritt Island, Florida; Sam Carson of Naperville, Illinois; Dena Bunnel of Washington D.C.; Amanda Carson of Naperville, Illinois; and three great-grandchildren, Grace Hendry, Taryn and Brynleigh Morrow; two sisters, Eileen Rooney of Wichita, Kansas and Bea Magers and husband, Marlo, of Adkins, Arkansas; one brother, Francis O'Malley and wife, Marilyn, of Eldridge, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at the Holy Angels Catholic Church in Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Holy Angels Cemetery in Garnett. The family will greet friends following a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Knights of Columbus Council #1368.