David Lynn Walter

David Walter was born in Edwardsville, IL and died at the age of 89 in Albuquerque, NM on May 2, 2026. David is survived by Jean, his dearest friend and wife of 45 years; his beloved son Steven (CO); and two amazing grandsons, Harrison (WA) and Solomon (CO). His parents Joseph August and Lillie Belva (née Epps) and older brothers Gregor Lee, Joseph Wayne and Kenneth James all preceded him in death.

Early in life, David discovered a love for music through participating in school choir and band and eventually received a BS and MS in music education with high honors from Eastern Illinois University, and earned Administrative Credentials from Northwestern University. He began his music teaching career as the Choral Director of Lincoln, (IL) High School and Lincoln College and subsequently taught music at Glenbrook North High School in north suburban Chicago for 33 years.

At Glenbrook David served as choral director, instructional supervisor and district co-manager for school restructuring. He also was elected president of the Glenbrook Educators' Association and was a member of the national test development committee for Advanced Placement Music.

While in the Chicago area, David sang as the principal second tenor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra chorus, singing under the batons of George Solti, Carlo Maria Giulini and Neville Mariner. He was appointed the chorus' apprentice conductor and was honored as a scholarship student in orchestral conducting with Margaret Hillis and Otto Werner Mueller.

He was choir master of the Libertyville (IL) Presbyterian Church and was gifted the Outstanding Jaycee Young Educator Award for suburban Cook County. David received a National Science Foundation Scholarship for Advanced Study in Baroque Music. He retired in 1994 after 34 years of Illinois teaching.

Throughout his lifetime. David enjoyed projects and tasks that involved organization and detail. Upon moving to New Mexico in 1995 he decided to use these skills to help found an area charter school; that school--East Mountain High School--was realized in 2000. During the following years, David served as chair of its Governing Council. David conducted the East Mountain Community Chorus' annual performance of MESSIAH for a number of years and served as the long-term community liaison for the Paa-Ko communities. Further, he was named as an East Mountain Outstanding Citizen in 2012 and was presented the 2014 E. Mountain High School Foundation Roger Cox Spirit of Giving Award. After moving to Albuquerque, David served as a board member on the World Affairs Council of Albuquerque.

David was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinal fan, an avid tennis player and a passionate walker. He was seen as kind, gentle and gracious by those who knew him well and he will be greatly missed by those who loved him.