Obituary of Walter E. Roode

Walter E. Roode, 82, of 134 Weeks St. Jamestown passed away at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2014, in his home. An area resident for most of his life he was born December 11, 1931 in Oneida, NY. He attended Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, NY and was a graduate of North Syracuse High School. He also attended Jamestown Community College. Walt was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving from January 9, 1951 to November 27, 1954. During his tour of duty in the Korean War he had served on the USS Mississippi and the USS Wisconsin Naval Ships. Before his retirement he was employed as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Jamestown for 30 years. In later years he was a driver instructor and was in charge of vehicle maintenance for the post office. He was a communicant of Holy Apostles Parish at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church where he sang in the choir for over 30 years. He had also been a member of the Thule Lodge #127, VASA Order of America and the Johns W. Tiffany Post #53, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was awarded the "Lifetime Red Raider Award" as a member of the Jamestown High School Football Booster Club in 2011 and was involved in Babe Ruth and Bambino League Baseball as a coach and scorekeeper for several teams. Walt will most notably be remembered as the official photographer of Jamestown High School Sports for over 45 years and was a very important part of youth sports in Jamestown. He started taking pictures for Jamestown High School in 1966 and soon became the photographer for the Bambino and Babe Ruth Baseball Leagues, Jamestown Area Midget Football League, and for Jamestown High School boys and girls' basketball, softball, football, baseball, wrestling and swimming teams. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest adult role models for the youth of Jamestown. He cared deeply for all kids just as if they were his own. He always rewarded the kids with his forever popular "Jolly Ranchers". Surviving are his wife the former Marlene Williams Roode whom he married July 10, 1965, a daughter Catherine (Daniel) Crasti , two granddaughters, Kimberly M. Crasti, Emily A. Crasti all of Jamestown. He was especially close to three special children, Gia Marie Bell, Declan Walter McMaster and Kael Richard McMaster. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 (noon) Saturday in Holy Apostles Parish, SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Dennis W. Mende, pastor will be celebrant. Burial will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-4 & 6-9 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home where a Christian Wake Service will be led by Deacon Sam Pellerito at 1:45 p.m. Friday. Memorials may be made to the Jamestown High School Football Boosters Club, c/o Mark Panebianco, 210 Arlington Ave. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to the Robert "Bobby" Guy Pollino Scholarship Fund, c/o Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring St. Jamestown, NY 14701. You may light a candle in remembrance of Walt at www.lindfuneralhome.com.