Richard Walz

Richard R. Walz, Jr., 89, of Swansea, Massachusetts, died on July 29, 2025. He was the husband of Theresa (Liberty) Walz. Born in Holyoke, MA, on March 17, 1936, he was the son of the late Richard R. Walz and Ana (DiVirgilio) Walz.

Richard grew up in Western Mass and entered the US Navy in 1954 as a young man. During his service, he was a second class Petty Officer, aviation electrician, and Grumman S-2 Tracker on Lockheed P-2 Neptune anti-submarine hunter aircraft. He was positioned in the nose of a Navy plane to spot and target enemy subs. After his military service, He relocated from Holyoke to Ocean Grove in Swansea, MA with his new young family. Here he started his first career in Fall River MA, where he worked for Elbe Products Corp for 25 years, departing as Production Manager. He simultaneously returned to school and earned his business degree from Johnson and Wales University. Richard then transitioned into a new career with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as the Prison Industries Supervisor for 15yrs until retirement.

Richard and Theresa raised their family in Swansea and enjoyed spending their retirement winters in Osprey, Florida. Richard was an avid golfer. His love of golf was fueled by an incredible lifetime achievement of three separate hole-in-ones on three different courses. He was a long-time member and former winner of the club championship at Touissett CC, as well as a long-term member at the Fall River CC for 25 years. In retirement, he continued golfing as he was a starter and ranger at Saranoah CC in Florida. He was a member of the American Legion in Swansea, MA, and the Elks in Sarasota, FL. Richard was especially known for his kindness, always having a good joke to tell, and fun times with friends and family in life.

Richard is survived by the "Love of his Life" Theresa his wife of 64 years, , his children, Richard Robert Walz III of Tiverton, RI, and Marc and his wife Lucy Walz of Westport, MA, and daughter Nancy Carmaine Walz of Swansea, MA. He leaves six grandchildren, Cassandra, Ami, Macy, Jacob, Benjamin, and Alexandra Walz, and two Great-Grandchildren, Hunter and Lana.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Bruce Walz, and a sister, Carmaine Marra.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 4 at 11:00am in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 530 Gardner's Neck Road, Swansea, MA. Burial with military honors will follow at the National Veterans Cemetery in Bourne, MA.

Donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/ or to the Saint Francis of Assisi Memorial Fund, 270 Ocean Grove Avenue, Swansea, MA 02777.