Walter L. Buffington

Walter L. Buffington

Walter L. Buffington, 100, passed away on Dec. 29, 2015. He was born on Nov. 10, 1915 in Golden City, Mo., to Leonard and Lucille Buffington. After graduating from high school in Golden City, he and his identical twin brother, Fred, relocated to Kansas City in 1938. Walter was a World War II Army veteran, earning five Bronze Stars during battle in the Rhineland, Naples, Rome, Southern France, and Central Europe, and was awarded the Purple Heart for aircraft gunshot wounds suffered during the Allied invasion of Italy. After the war, Walter and Fred, both lifelong bachelors, returned to the Hyde Park neighborhood of Kansas City. Walter was a career U.S. Postal Service mail carrier until his retirement in 1975. Walter was a legend in Hyde Park, sharing his wit, humor, and endless stories of a full life with his many friends and neighbors mostly from his front porch. Walter lived in his residence until he suffered a stroke three weeks before his passing at Bishop Spencer Place.

Walter was preceded in death by his sisters, Eileen and Olive; brothers, Joe, Bob, Fred, and Larry; nephews, Mike Buffington and David Ludwigs; niece, Jodi Buffington. He is survived by nephews, Bill Buffington and Larry Robert Buffington; and great-nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016 at McGilley Midtown Chapel, 20 W. Linwood, KCMO. An inurnment will be held at a later date in Fort Scott National Cemetery alongside his twin brother, Fred. Online condolences may be offered at mcgilleymidtownchapel.com. Arrangements McGilley Midtown Chapel, (816) 753-6200.