Walter Fitzpatrick

Funeral services for Walter Smartt Fitzpatrick, Jr., age 82 of Cookeville, will be held Friday August 2nd at 12 noon at Collegeside Church of Christ with Bro. John Nichols and Bro. Buddy Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in the Crest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday from 4 - 8 p.m. at Collegeside Church of Christ and Friday from 10 a.m. until service time at the church. Mr. Fitzpatrick died Tuesday July 30, 2019 at the age of 82. He was born on March 4, 1937 to Walter Sr. and Bernice Harley Fitzpatrick who preceded him in death. His brother Sam R. Fitzpatrick lives in Johnson City, TN; one sister Alice Kay (KK Fitzpatrick) and husband Acie Mitchell of Gunbarrel, TX; one sister-in-law Nancy (Black) widow of brother David R. (Ronnie) Fitzpatrick who preceded him in death. Walter (referred to by family as "Bart") was reared in Cookeville, educated in Putnam County schools and Tennessee Tech University. While working as a computer programmer at Arnold Research Center in Tullahoma, he earned a BS degree in Math and did research in Computer Science at MTSU. He joined an electronic warfare contractor in Texas as Director of Scientific Computing. He co-founded a software company in Dallas, Texas for computing design and development in support of military Elint and Sigint programs. He moved his family to Fayetteville, TN to join Computer Sciences Corporation in Huntsville, AL as a computer scientist specializing in missile defense weapon systems. While working in Huntsville, he earned an MS degree from the University of Alabama concentrating in Health Care Administration. He returned to Cookeville as Administrator of Cookeville General Hospital for 14 years. He vigorously defended the people's right to determine their hospital's future and to manage their hospital for their families' benefit. He returned to Fayetteville to manage health care facilities for more than a decade. Following retirement, he was repeatedly called back to trouble-shoot and for temporary management of health facilities. Walter was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and served as an elder for several years. He is survived by Peggy Butts Fitzpatrick, childhood sweetheart and wife of 63 years. She was a wonderful, supportive partner and the major influence in his life. He is also survived by two sons: Walter S. Fitzpatrick III (Pat), a respected Cookeville attorney (wife Susan), and Dennis Lee Fitzpatrick, production manager for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Ocala, FL (and his wife Melinda). Walter loved and admired his two sons, five grandchildren and their five spouses (all 12 graduates of TTU, several with advanced degrees). Jeff and Angela (Wright) Fitzpatrick; Blake and Jennifer (Dyer) Fitzpatrick; Jordan and Becky (Wall) Fitzpatrick; Parker and Haley Elizabeth (Fitzpatrick) Teeter; Tristan and Catherine Hunter (Fitzpatrick) Archer; and one smiling great-grandchild, Caroline Blake Fitzpatrick, infant daughter of Jordan and Becky. The grandchildren and their spouses are pall bearers. Honorary pall bearers are: Jim Atnip, Curtis Shinsky, Bob Wheatley, Greg Wheatley, Phil McCanless, Marty Kelly, John Rhodes, Jim Loyd, David Fox, Joe Erdeljack, Randy Spurlock, John Magura and David Vaughn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 111180, Nashville, TN 37222-9900. Hooper Huddleston and Horner is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111 Share memories and condolences at hhhfunerals.com.