John H. T. Walthall, 81, retired president of Ashland Federal Savings and Loan Association, died on Tuesday, May 24, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Mr. Walthall was born November 27, 1923, in Roanoke, Va., a son of the late John Henry and Annabelle Jordan Walthall. He attended the University of Kentucky two years before joining the Army in 1944 and led a combat engineer platoon in the Asiatic theater during World War II. He continued service as a Reserve officer after the war, retiring as a major in May 1983. He returned to UK to graduate in 1949 and was a lifetime member of Delta Tau Delta.
He was employed by Gevedon Real Estate until accepting a position with Ashland Federal in 1959. He retired as president there in May 1990. He served as a director of the Kentucky Savings & Loan League (1970-72) and of the Savings and Loan Data Corp., Inc. (1980-86)
David Barbour, chairman and chief executive officer of Classic Bank (formerly Ashland Federal) said, “For many years John Walthall was Ashland Federal and throughout his remarkable career he helped thousands of Ashland area residents attain their dream of home ownership. His honesty, integrity and service to the Ashland community will not be forgotten by the people he touched.
Mr. Walthall was a Jaycee, Optimist, UK Fellow, and lifetime member of the UK Alumni Association and the Reserve Officers Association. He was a Kentucky Colonel, member of the National Society of Pershing Rifles and served as local Red Cross chairman. A 50-year member and former elder and treasurer of First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, he later transferred membership to First Christian Church of Ashland.
He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Libby Callihan Walthall, in 1989; a brother Jack Walthall in 1978; and a brother-in-law, Laban T. Moore.
Survivors include his wife, Charlotte Schweitzer Walthall; a daughter, Ann Mitchell Walthall of Lexington; a sister, Nancy Moore of Houston, Texas; three stepsons, Browning (Paula) Schweitzer of Knoxville, Randy Schweitzer of Ashland and Jeff (Barbara) Schweitzer of Chesapeake, Va; six grandchildren, Brice and Charlotte (Charli) of Knoxville; Nicholas Rees and Chase, of Kenova; Kendyl and Haley of Chesapeake; three nieces and three nephews one of which is Jim Walthall and his wife Sue of Ashland, Ky..
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Ashland by the Reverend Ike Nicholson & the Reverend Dale C. Swihart Jr. Visitation will be from 6 –8:00 pm on Monday, at the Steen Funeral Home Central Avenue Chapel. Mr. Walthall will lie in state from 10am until 11am on Tuesday at the church.
Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery where there will be a Military service conducted by the American Legion Kenova Post #93.
Contributions may be made to the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1930 Winchester Avenue Church Ashland, Ky. 41101 or to the First Presbyterian Church 1600 Winchester Avenue Ashland, Ky. 41101.
Online condolences may be sent to www.steenfuneralhomes.com
