After a brief illness, Chester Walding, lifelong resident of Pinckard, Alabama, departed this life on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Surrounded by his loving family, Chester peacefully transitioned to his eternal home with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Lord blessed Chester with a long, healthy and happy life; he passed just weeks shy of his 97th birthday.
A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, November 12, at 11:00am at Sunset Memorial Park Chapel. The family will receive friends from 10:00am until service time. Conducting the service will be Pastor Paul Edenfield, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Dothan, Pastor Kurt McInnis, Pinckard Baptist Church, Pinckard and Pastor Bo Weed, Macedonia Baptist Church, Troy. Following the service, Chester will be laid to rest at Pinckard Cemetery with military honors.
Serving as Pallbearers are Kyle and Miles Walding, grandsons, Danny Simmons, Darrin Simmons, Tim Amerson and Bobby Borland. Honorary Pallbearers are Charles Weed, James Andrews and Gary Austin.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Pinckard Baptist Church or the Newton Senior Citizens Center, Nutritional Program, 101 King Street, Newton, AL 36352.
Chester’s life journey began on December 23, 1929, as the second born child of Mike and Lera Walding. His early years were spent in Pinckard then at the age of 17 he joined his father and older brother, Ralph, in the U.S. Merchant Marines. The service tours they shared took them to many places far away such as the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Mediterranean Sea.
Upon the completion of his duty on the open seas, Chester met and married the love of his life, Christine Simmons from Ozark, Alabama. They traveled the states together while he served his country in the U.S. Army. After his tour of duty, they chose to make their home and raise their family in Pinckard where they resided together until her passing in 2008. Chester used the technical skills he obtained in the Merchant Marines in the electronics repair department at Montgomery Wards in Dothan. Upon his retirement from there, he opened his own T.V. repair shop in Ozark and built a very successful business.
Chester was a quiet, gentle, humble and godly man; always willing to help where needed but never wanted or asked for recognition or reward. He served others with a joyful, unselfish heart. Although he was quiet, he loved to laugh and enjoyed the lighter side of good clean humor.
Chester had several hobbies; he was a tinkerer and loved to “enhance” gadgets. Although none were ever patented, many proved very helpful. He built rocking chairs, tables, shelves and some unidentifiable objects that only he knew what they were. He was a wonderful cook. His fried fish dinners and homemade lasagna were legendary! He wasn’t afraid to experiment with new food or techniques; some worked well while others failed miserably, i.e. Vinegar and fried chicken!
Other than spending time with his family, he loved to watch the boys Little League World Series, girls’ college softball and college football. His quiet time was spent listening to the authentic, old country music found on an AM station. However, Chester’s greatest enjoyment came from being out in the middle of a lake or on the bank of a river or pond, “wetting a hook”. With a fishing buddy or alone, he was forever planning the next fishing expedition. He made his own worm beds and kept the boat ready to go! The sign on his door read: Gone Fishin’.
Left behind to cherish many wonderful memories are sons Mikie Walding (Sandi), Dothan and Jeff Walding, Pinckard, grandsons Kyle Walding (Wendy), Fairhope and Miles Walding (Andrea), Hoover, great grandchildren Abbey, Lennon, Henry and Ruthie and special furry lap buddy, Sweet Pea who will greatly miss Big Daddy’s wonderful massages,
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Christine, mother and father, Mike and Lera Walding, brother Ralph Walding.
While he will be missed tremendously, we are comforted in knowing that he is in the presence of Jesus and his soulmate, Christine, walking those beautiful shores looking for the perfect spot to wet a hook.
