Walter H. Ekberg. Jr., 84, died peacefully on May 26 in Portland, Ore. after fulfilling a wonderful life. He was husband to his best friend and love of his life, Mary, for 64 glorious years. Walt was a great Dad to his son Jim Ekberg, and daughters Jo Anne Lewis and Jan Brown. He was grandpa to Geoff, Doug, Jenny, Nikki, Ian, David, and Sarah; great-grandfather to Zachary, Henry, Elizabeth, Lily, Joshua and Seth; and big brother to Robert Ekberg of Grandville, Mich. Walt and his wife Mary were Michigan State sweethearts and graduates, and Walt, a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. They lived many years in Birmingham, Mich. and were active in the Christian Science Church. Walt served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and the Korean War. He was born and raised in Royal Oak, Mich. He started his career at Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich. and always drove a Ford. He later served the remainder of his career as comptroller for A. J. Miller, Inc. in Royal Oak. Walt and his wife Mary semi-retired in 1983 to Newcastle where they ran a small gift shop called “The Maine Sale” out of their charming 1800’s home by the sea. They fell in love with Maine where they stayed happily for 22 years. In April 2005, they moved to Portland, Ore. to be near their son Jim who would lovingly care for them. Walt was a true gentleman, loving husband and father, with a good, pure, and generous heart. He left his family with wonderful memories and 110 beautifully written personal essays. He will truly be missed.
A service is not planned; naturally, he didn’t want one. But one day, the ashes of the mariner he once was will rejoin the sea on a slack tide at the Damariscotta River Bridge in Maine, just down the street from their Maine Shangri-La. If you care to send a memorial donation in his name, please it send to First Church of Christ Scientist, P. O. Box 428, Damariscotta, ME 04543.
