Walter Clinton Reynolds

Walter Reynolds of Charleston, SC, passed away on Friday, November 17, 2017, at the age of 79 years after a long battle with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Walter was born on February 15, 1938, in Philadelphia. Walter grew up in Rutledge and Swarthmore. He graduated from Swarthmore High School in 1956 and was the football manager. In 2016, he enjoyed returning home for his 60th class reunion.

Walter was predeceased by his wife, Carol Goff Reynolds; a son, William Roland Reynolds; and his parents, Samuel D. Reynolds, Sr., and E. Winifred Rumble Reynolds.

Walter will be remembered by his children - Karen Mattison and her husband, Van, of Clinton, SC, Susan Makky and her husband, Steve, of Ormond Beach, FL, John Reynolds and his wife, Wende, of Charleston, SC, Daisy Thrailkill of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Tim Thrailkill of Winter Park, CO, 9 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter. Also, he will be remembered by his brother, Samuel D. Reynolds, Jr., of West Caldwell, NJ.

He was a lifetime salesman; he started selling greeting cards and personalized stationary when he was 9 years old. In the early 1960's, he was the manager of the Variety Corner in Swarthmore. He also managed a record store in Swarthmore. Over the years, he sold advertising specialties, chocolate bars for fundraising, custom embroidered apparel and screen printed sportswear.

Walter spent several years as a volunteer firefighter in Swarthmore. He was the fire company secretary in 1966. He held this experience fondly and remained interested in all things fire-fighting related for the rest of his days. He was an avid collector of toy and die-cast fire trucks and fire company patches. In February 2017, Walter was honored as Life Member of the Swarthmore Fire & Protective Association.

Devoting his life to service, he was a Sea Scout leader, a Sunday school teacher, a youth group leader, a church lay reader and usher, a hospital youth group leader, a foster parent, and a youth soccer coach.

Besides supporting his children’s activities, Walter supported their passions. He attended band and choral competitions and concerts, plays, Star Trek conventions, and Music Farm and Wave Fest - two alternative rock concerts.

He also collected memorabilia over the years. He had World War II letters from his father, postcards from his childhood, and Sea Scout patches. He liked Arthur Fiedler’s Boston Pops, country and gospel music, musicals, and Gilbert and Sullivan. He believed every evening should be toasted with a Manhattan.

Walter also had a passion for good sandwiches. He was known to have hoagies from Chester’s Laspadas flown to Charleston and to have driven to Jacksonville, FL, for a Lubi’s sandwich.

Throughout his lifetime, he was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Swarthmore, All Saints Episcopal in Jacksonville, FL, Good Shepherd Episcopal and New Covenant in Central Florida, and St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC.

He attended Penn State and Drexel Institute of Technology taking classes in Business Administration. He was an avid Clemson fan.


A memorial service is being held on Sunday December 17,2017 at 3pm in the Canterburry House 175 Market St, Charleston, SC 29401 (In The Activity Room).Those who so desire may make donations in memory of Walter to Swarthmore Fire & Protective Association, P.O. Box 261, Swarthmore, PA 19081.