A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING the life and memory of Walter Greene Church, former member of the general assembly.
Whereas, Walter Greene Church was born on June 30, 1927, in Caldwell County to Anderson Mitchell "A.M." Church and Rosa Dell Triplett Church; and
Whereas, Walter Greene Church graduated from Valdese High School, attended Amherst College from 1945 to 1946, and took courses in banking and finance from the University of Wisconsin from 1962 to 1964; and
Whereas, Walter Greene Church served in the United States Army from 1945 to 1955, earning the rank of sergeant first class; and
Whereas, after his military service, Walter Greene Church returned to his hometown of Valdese, where he married Verta Jean Burns, of Hildebran, North Carolina; and
Whereas, Walter Greene Church began a career in banking by working for the Tallahassee Bank & Trust Company in Florida; and
Whereas, after a few years, Walter Greene Church returned to North Carolina, where he worked for First National Bank and then became CEO of Western Carolina Savings and Loan; and
Whereas, Walter Greene Church served his community as a member of the Board of Directors of the Valdese General Hospital and of Burke County United Way and as a member of both the Burke County Industrial Pollution Control Authority and the Burke County Board of Elections; and
Whereas, in 1992, Walter Greene Church was appointed to the House of Representatives to fill an unexpired term; and
Whereas, Walter Greene Church went on to represent the citizens of Burke County for 16 years and was credited with advocating for Lake James State Park, Broughton Hospital, the North Carolina School for the Deaf, and the J. Iverson Riddle Center and the Foothills Higher Education Center; and
Whereas, during his tenure in the General Assembly, Representative Church served as chair of the Financial Institutions Committee, vice‑chair of the State Personnel Committee, and as a member of Appropriations, Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, Local Government II, and Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House Committees; and
Whereas, in 1985, Walter Greene Church was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor James B. Hunt, Jr.; and
Whereas, Walter Greene Church was a member of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church in Valdese; and
Whereas, Walter Greene Church died on October 1, 2012, at the age of 85; and
Whereas, Walter Green Church lost his wife of 53 years, Verta Jean Burns Church, prior to his death; and
Whereas, Walter Greene Church is survived by his son, Walter Church, Jr.; his daughter, Lori Church; his brother, Charles Willard Church; and his grandchildren, Lauren Emily Church and Kristen Susanne Church; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Walter Greene Church and expresses appreciation for his life and service to his community, State, and nation.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its sympathy to the family of Walter Greene Church for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Walter Greene Church.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.