Walter Green Jr.

Walter Green, Jr. was the youngest son of ten children born to the late Walter Green, Sr. and Rhobela Blount Green on October 1, 1932 in Ayden Township, Pitt County, North Carolina.

Like his father who was an entrepreneur and bought their still family owned and operated farm in 1943, Walter was a determined and focused young man. He chose to write for his high school newspaper as opposed to following the family legacy of driving the school bus that his father and other black farmers purchased to enable African American children in Pitt County to earn a better education.

After graduating from Ayden Colored High School in 1952, he enrolled at Morgan State University (“Morgan”). Due to financial challenges, he left Morgan and enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his military service, he was stationed in Germany and continued his undergraduate studies at Southern Illinois University. Upon his honorable discharge in 1956, he initially planned to move to California; however, when his roommate was injured, he decided to join his Brother (Eddie Green) and Sister-in-Law (Bobbie Green) in Philadelphia. While working at the U.S. Army Signal Corps. (“Signal Corps”), he enrolled at Temple University (“Temple”), at night, and graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Certificate in Accounting. After graduation, he continued graduate studies at Temple.

During his time at Temple, he was initially married to Lorraine Pulley and from this marriage he had one son (Rodney). After his divorce, he met a lovely fellow night student, Anita Marie Winters, and on October 25, 1968, they were married into wedded bliss by the Rev. Dr. Gus Roman of Canaan Baptist Church (then located at Belfield Avenue and Haines Street and affectionately known as “Little Canaan”). From this union, they had two children (Hon. Derek S. Green, Esq. and Valerie Green Amos, M.D.).

Upon leaving the Signal Corps, Walter joined the U.S. Department of Labor and later transferred to the newly created Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). After nearly 33 years of federal service, he retired, at 55, from the EEOC as the Affirmative Action Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region. In retirement, he started Walter Green & Associates, a consulting and investigations firm which focused on affirmative action, equal employment, and fair labor standards laws and regulations. Further, he taught job readiness classes at the Youth Development Center, Bucks County Community College, Bucks County Office of Employment and Training and volunteered at New Directions for Women, Inc.

On December 5, 1969, along with his four-line brothers, Walter joined the noble clan of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (Philadelphia Alumni Chapter). He became a life member on March 16, 1973 and served in various capacities and leadership positions including, but not limited to, the Board of Directors. On October 22, 1983, along with his good friend, the late Harold L. Rush, he received the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter’s Achievement Award. From 1994-1999, he served as the President of the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter Housing Corporation. As President, he led the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter in purchasing the former Fidelity Bank Branch office at Germantown Avenue and School House Lane. This property was renamed as the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Achievement Center and is the permanent home of the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter and enabled the Chapter to be a part of the economic development of the historic Germantown community. Considering this work, distinguished leadership, and dedicated service to Kappa, Walter received the James M. Kidd Award from the Northeastern Province of the Fraternity.

From 1968 to 1991, Walter was a dedicated and faithful member of Canaan Baptist Church of Germantown. During this period, he served on the Trustee and Credit Union Boards and chaired the Audit, Budget, Capital Building Fund, Constitution & By-laws, Finance, Men’s Fellowship, and Scholarship Committees. In 1991, he joined the Salem Baptist Church of Abington (formerly Jenkintown)(“Salem”). At Salem, he was an active and faithful member. He served on the Scholarship and Endowment Ministry as Treasurer, Finance Committee Member, and Vice President. Walter was a regular chaperone for the annual HBCU College Tour.

Shortly after the birth of his daughter, Valerie, Walter moved his family to Bensalem, PA. As a resident, he became deeply involved in the community and made lifelong friends with numerous people including his next-door neighbors Robert and Kathy Hartman. He was a co-founder of the Lower Bucks County Optimist Club, Board Director of the Volunteers in Teaching Alternative (“VITA”), Member of the Bucks County NAACP, and Democratic Nominee for the Bensalem Township School Board of Directors.  

Walter lived an active life, and until his illness in 2015, had the energy and spirit of a man many years younger. As a young father, he was an avid tennis player and, as he matured, played golf twice a week. In their retirement, Walter and Anita became weekly Bridge players under the tutelage of the late Calvin Wesley. During their retirement, Walter and Anita traveled to Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, England, France, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Italy, Senegal, and most of the United States. Additionally, he built a second home on his family farm land in Grifton, North Carolina and traveled regularly to visit with his siblings, family, and friends.

On Friday, October 6, 2023, in Philadelphia, PA, Walter went home to be with the Lord.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings (Willie Joshua, Rosa Lee, Augustus, Clenon, Lenon, Adolphus, Jesse Lee, and Eddie Thomas). Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Anita Green; son, Rodney Greene (Linda), son, Hon. Derek S. Green, Esq. (Sheila), and daughter, Valerie Green Amos, M.D. (Fred); sister, Beomi Green Williams; sister-in-law, Reather Green; granddaughters, Sunflower C. Greene and Starr N. Greene; grandson, Julian Green; step grandson, Cody S. Greene; and a host of nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces, cousins, extended family, friends, and fraternity brothers.

Submitted With Love,

The Family

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