William Terry Walden

WILLIAM “TERRY” WALDEN OF WRENS, GEORGIA PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2023 WHILE SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY AT ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL IN ATHENS, GA. TERRY PASSED PEACEFULLY AFTER A SHORT BATTLE WITH CANCER.

HE WAS A BELOVED SON, BROTHER, UNCLE, GREAT-UNCLE, NEPHEW, COUSIN AND FRIEND.  HE IS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS FATHER, MERRILL EDWARD “BUNK” WALDEN.  HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS LOVING FAMILY TO INCLUDE MOTHER, JUDY WALDEN, SISTER, CHERYL GRAY (CHERRIE WALDEN), NIECE, KRISTIE WILSON, NEPHEW-IN-LAW, MATTHEW WILSON, “THE APPLE OF HIS EYE” GREAT-NEPHEW, MASON WILSON, AUNT, FRANCES DNISTRAN, AND SEVERAL COUSINS.

TERRY WAS A VALUED EMPLOYEE OF SOUTHERN COMPANY FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, WORKING AS A SENIOR NUCLEAR MAINTENANCE OPERATOR AT PLANT VOGTLE.

HE WAS A DECORATED NAVY SERVICE MEMBER AND SERVED DURING THE VIETNAM CONFLICT. HE SERVED THREE YEARS ABOARD A GUIDED MISSLE CRUISER NAMED THE USS ALBANY-CG10.  DURING HIS SERVICE, THERE WAS A BOILER ROOM EXPLOSION WHILE 1,000 MILES OUT AT SEA.  TERRY WAS FIRST ON THE SCENE AND ORCHASTRATED THE “ALL-HANDS-ON DECK” EFFORT TO PUT OUT THE MASSIVE FIRE WHICH CAUSED CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE AND ONE DEATH. TERRY WAS HAILED A HERO FOR SAVING THE SHIP AND ITS 1500 SERVICE MEMBERS.

TERRY HAD AN EXTREMELY KIND, GENEROUS, GIVING WAY ABOUT HIM; HE OFFERED TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO ANYONE WHO NEEDED IT. HE LOVED HELPING HIS FRIENDS WITH PROJECTS THAT REQUIRED HIS MECHANICAL AND WELDING EXPERTISE. HE LOVED LIVING ON THE LAND, DRIVING HIS TRACTOR AND DOING ANYTHING INVOLVING MACHINARY, MECHANICAL REPAIR OR AUTO RESTORATION. HE TOOK IMMENSE PRIDE IN BEING ABLE TO FIX ANYTHING.

TERRY LOVED A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT ANYTHING. POLITICS, HUNTING, THE OUTDOORS, DALE EARNHARDT, FAMILY. IT DIDN’T MATTER. HE LOVED TO JOKE AROUND AND THOSE THAT KNEW TERRY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIS ENDEARING BELLY LAUGH.

IN HIS LAST MONTHS, TERRY SHARED MANY STORIES AND FOND MEMORIES WITH HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS AND FAMILY.  HIS MIND, SENSE OF HUMOR, AND LOVE FOR LIFE NEVER FAILED HIM EVEN WHEN HIS BODY HAD. HE LEFT A WONDERFUL LEGACY AND WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

LORD AND STEPHENS, EAST IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.