Walter "Walt" Monroe

Walter Monroe, affectionately known as Walt, was known throughout the city as the man who could fix anything. While his hands were able to craft a solution for every problem, his mind held a depth of knowledge earned through years of dedication, discipline, and pride in his craft. To know Walt was to know reliability. He took care of every responsibility, even those that weren’t his own, with a sense of ownership and a heart of service.

Walt was born October 29, 1937 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi to Frank and Ruth Monroe. He helped out on the family farm, taught his younger brother to be right handed, and eventually got a job assembling store displays on his way to elementary school and disassembling them on his way home. His quiet charisma and servant leadership served him well throughout high school where he was voted both homecoming and prom king. Upon graduation, Walt enlisted in the United States Air Force as an Air Force mechanic, where precision, responsibility, and commitment were not optional but a way of life. Those same values followed him home and defined his character long after his service ended. He returned to New Orleans where he had strong ties since childhood, traveled the country, and completed several additional certifications climbing the ladder in civilian life as a mechanic and in his second and third careers before retiring.

During the early years, he married his lifelong love, Deanna, and built a loving family, including his daughter, Crystal, with whom he enjoyed motorcycling and cheering on the Buckeyes. He later welcomed a granddaughter and partner in crime Christen with whom he enjoyed sharing his gift of building and gardening with, and a great-granddog, Imani who he cultivated a spirited relationship with. 

Beyond his unmatched skill, Walt believed deeply in providing for his family, his friends, and anyone who found themselves in need, caring the load with quiet strength and unwavering resolve. He was heavily involved in the service ministries as a deacon at True Christ Ministries, a volunteer in the community, as well as serving his fellow steel workers in union leadership. Walt lived his life not seeking recognition, but earning respect.

After years of living with dementia, he faced a sudden illness and persevered through one last Christmas with his family before deciding to rest. On December 28, 2025, with his daughter and granddaughter by his side, he rose above to join his wife Deanna, Mother, Father, Sister Doris, and Brothers Jessie Frank, Effort, Robert, and Lewis. He leaves his daughter, Crystal; granddaughter, Christen; great-granddog, Imani; brother, Alvin (Jackie); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends to cherish his memory and an example of what it means to serve well, work honestly, and love deeply.

In leu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Beautiful Deeds Foundation, Inc., which was founded in honor of his wife’s matching love of service, to support their efforts in Alzheimer’s awareness and caregiver support (https://tinyurl.com/Donate4Walt).