Longtime City of Falls Church resident, Walter Herbert Morse, died on June 7, 2010 at his home. Born on Feb. 4, 1920 in New York City, he was 90 when he passed away.
Longtime City of Falls Church resident, Walter Herbert Morse, died on June 7, 2010 at his home. Born on Feb. 4, 1920 in New York City, he was 90 when he passed away.
Morse was the son of the late Walter Hiram and Ethel Bagwell Morse. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elvira Whitehead Morse, and his four daughters and son.
Morse received his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1948, an A.B. degree from Princeton University in 1942 and an LLM degree from George Washington University in 1952. Morse served his country in Naval Aviation and in numerous positions with the Federal government as an attorney. He was a membership of the Conneticut, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Bar Associations.
As a member of the Falls Church Episcopal Church, he served as the superintendent and a teacher of the Sunday school. Morse was one of the founders of the day school. He was a strong advocate for excellence in education, and a member and chairman of the Falls Church City School Board from 1969 to 1977. During his tenure, full-day kindergarten began in 1973 and before- and after-school day care started several years later.
Family Life and Sex Education Program was instituted and Career Education expanded as a cooperative program with Arlington County. Buildings were in need of repair and renovation and construction projects were accomplished. Thomas Jefferson School was closed for renovation and reopened in 1979. A plaque honoring Walter was installed at Thomas Jefferson at that time.
F.C. City Schools Superintendent Emeritus Dr. Warren J. Pace, who submitted the obituary tribute to the News-Press wrote, “Mr. Morse was a dedicated and forceful leader who contributed much to education and the quality of life in the City of Falls Church.”
Graveside services were conducted at 10:30 a.m. June 10 at the Amherst Cemetery in Amherst, Va. Military honors were conducted by the American Legion Post #16 of Lynchburg.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Amherst Fire Department, P.O. Box 470, Amherst, VA 24521; or Seven Hills Hospice, 2250 Murrell Road, Building B Unit 2, Lynchburg, VA 25501.
