MATHISON RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT: 

Walter Chow moved to Florida in October 2016 to be close to his son's family, both his grandchildren and his 4 great grandchildren. 

Walter's family roots are from Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was born and raised. He was 13 years old, selling newspapers on the street corner in Honolulu on Dec 7, 1941, when he witnessed the Pearl Harbor attack. By the age of 15, Walter was an avid boxer and won the Golden Gloves championship for the Hawaiian Islands. As soon as he was old enough, Walter enlisted in the Army Air Corps and for his first assignment was sent to Munich, Germany, where he met his wife Katharina. 

Walter and Katharina married in 1951 and raised two sons as they enjoyed various assignments with the Air Force, including Germany, Nevada, Virginia, New York and Hawaii. After 24 years of active duty, MSgt Walter Chow, Fuels Management Supervisor, retired from the US Air Force in 1971. His last active duty assignment was Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii where he chose to settle down with his family. His main interests included traveling with his wife, having friends over for dinner, babysitting his grandchildren, and watching football or boxing on TV.

Walter's two sons, Kurt and Randy, followed in their father's footsteps and also served in and retired from the US Air Force. Walter's wife of 63 years, Katharina, passed away in 2014 and his eldest son, Kurt, passed in 2020. His son, Randy, lives just down the road from Mathison.