Lewis Albert “Bootie” Walser Jr. was born in Winston Salem, NC, the only son of Lewis A. and Alice H. Walser. His only sibling is a younger sister, Martha Jayne Walser.
Al was known to his family, friends and classmates by the nickname “Bootie.” Family legend holds that Al’s cousin was responsible for the family nickname. As a toddler, his cousin’s attempts to pronounce Albert resulted in “Ah-boot” which became “Bootie” forevermore to his family and friends.
Starting in his early life, Bootie demonstrated those qualities which were his hallmark: a bright mind, lightning wit, a ready smile and a will to win. He was a superb high school athlete, lettering in baseball, football and basketball. His teachers and fellow students at Gray High School in Winston Salem also recognized his leadership qualities by electing him president of the National Honor Society, class president, and student body president. As a member of the Boy Scouts of America, Bootie achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow.
At the urging of an uncle, a career soldier in the U.S. Army, Bootie sought and received a Congressional appointment to West Point. He entered the Academy on Jul 5, 1950. Bootie’s keen sense of humor enabled him to endure the best efforts of Beast as he looked forward to the academic year and the opportunity to engage once again in his favorite activity—team sports. He made significant contributions to the intramural teams of Company E-2 and was an accomplished outfielder on the plebe Baseball team. He also participated in the French Club, Dialectic Society and Policy Committee. He held the rank of cadet corporal during cow year and cadet lieutenant as a first classman. One of Bootie’s favorite bits of advice was always “don’t sweat the small stuff.” He apparently applied this philosophy with great skill to his dealings with the Academic Department as he finished firmly ensconced within a few files of the middle of the class.
Bootie married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Ann Sink, on Jun 19, 1954, and they were off to Fort Bliss, TX, for the AAA Officer Basic Course. Upon completion of that milestone, Bootie joined the bulk of the Class of ’54 for Airborne Training at Fort Benning, GA, while Pat returned to Winston Salem to prepare for their move to their first duty station at Fort Story, VA. His first troop assignment was the Air Defense Group defending the Norfolk, VA, area; first as a battery officer, then as the Assistant S-3 of a Nike Air Defense Missile Battalion. In August 1956, he and Pat returned to Fort Bliss where he attended the AAA Battery Officer’s Course. Upon completion of the course, he left for Korea, while Pat returned to Winston Salem. He was assigned to a 105mm Howitzer Battery of the 24th Infantry Division Artillery, which became a Brigade Mortar Battery when the division was reorganized as the 1st Cavalry Division. He was the Battery XO and later became the Mortar Battery Commander. He returned to the States in mid-1958, and was assigned to ROTC duty at the Georgia Military Academy in College Park in Atlanta, where he served until he resigned his commission in mid-1959.
Bootie began his civilian employment with Bell Labs, then part of American Telephone & Telegraph. He worked in New Jersey for one year while training for management in the corporate world and then returned to the Winston Salem area. He was assigned initially to the AT&T Lexington Road plant and later to the AT&T Guilford Center, with ever increasing responsibilities in management and engineering.
Bootie and Pat were blessed with the birth of a daughter in 1965, Catherine Alexis, and a son in 1970, Lewis Allan. Bootie also returned to the athletic field, as he began officiating high school football games and then moved into the college level. He was a member of the North State Football Officials Association and was affiliated with the Atlantic Coast Conference. His officiating career ended in the late 1970s due to the first of two hip replacement surgeries.
As a result of corporate reorganization within the AT&T/Bell Labs Companies, he moved his family to Birmingham, AL, in late 1974 for a period of one year. They then moved to Nashville, TN, where he held a management position with Bell South. Bootie and Pat were divorced in the early 1980s. In 1983, Bootie married Bonnie Raines, a widow with four children who ranged in age from 19 to 24, and they enjoyed fourteen years together. He retired from Bell South in 1993.
On Dec 7, 1997, Bootie died of respiratory failure after a period of hospitalization at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, TN. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Raines Walser, of Southaven, MS; a stepdaughter, Lynn Raines, of Bartlett, TN; and three stepsons: Stanley Raines of Memphis, TN, Stacey Raines of Independence, MS, and Ronald Raines (since deceased) of Southaven, MS. He is also survived by his former wife, Patricia Sink Walser, his daughter, Catherine Alexis Walser Bick, and his son, Lewis Allan Walser, all of Nashville, TN; and his sister, Martha Jayne Walser of Winston-Salem, NC. He is also survived by four grandchildren and six step-grandchildren.
Bootie is greatly missed by his family, friends and his West Point classmates, especially those from Cadet Company E, 2nd Regiment. He was well liked and highly regarded by all whose lives he touched.
Well done, Bootie. Be Thou at Peace.
— Family Members and Former Roommates, Jim Chapman and Paul Powers