CDR Walter M. Meginnis 09/64 –
06/65
OBITUARY
Walter M Meginniss
October
5, 1924 - December 31, 2013
Walter Murphree Meginniss, of Tallahassee, died
early Tuesday morning, December 31. He was 89 years old.
Walter was born and raised in Tallahassee, a member of a family
whose roots in North Florida date back to the 19th century. His father served as the mayor of Tallahassee in the late ‘20's,
and his mother taught music at Florida State College for Women. Walter was a graduate of Leon High School, the United States
Naval Academy, and George Washington University School of Law.
He served in the Navy for 25 years, attaining the rank
of Commander. During his career, he had the privilege of commanding a destroyer escort and a guided missile destroyer, attended
the Naval War College, and served with the United States mission to NATO. Upon his retirement from the Navy in 1968, he returned
to Florida to practice law, first with a law firm in Stuart, and then with the office of the Attorney General here in Tallahassee.
Walter was devoted to his wife of 67 years, Patricia Thomas Meginniss, and was heartbroken when Pat died in September
of 2013. Together, they lived all over the world, meeting and befriending people from every imaginable background. Walter
loved talking to people and learning their stories.
He is survived by his son Terry Meginniss of Brooklyn, NY, daughter
Trish Rouse of Memphis, TN, and by his grandchildren Kelly Friend and Darby Shaw of Tallahassee, Emma Mann-Meginniss of San
Francisco, Marisa Rouse of Charlotte, NC, and Sam Rouse of Memphis, TN. He was pre-deceased by his oldest child, Lyndi Green.
Walter had great love for his family, the Navy, the law, and Tallahassee. He was a lifelong parishioner and ardent supporter
of St. John's Episcopal Church.
Funeral services will be held at St. John's on Saturday, January 11 at 2:00 pm. In lieu
of flowers, please consider contributing to St. John's Episcopal Church, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or the Friends
of LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library.