Major General Walter R. Longanecker, Jr.
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Major General Walter R. Longanecker, Jr.

  • August 19, 1922 - January 28, 2012
  • Annapolis, Maryland
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Memories & Candles

“We will truly miss Walteer at St. Stephens Church. He was faithful and a fine gentaleman. ”
1 of 7 | Posted by: Nancy Savignac - Crofton, MD

“On behalf of myself and my brother Leon, we extend our sincere sympathy to Walt's family. We served with him in the U.S. Air Force Reserves from the...Read More » ”
2 of 7 | Posted by: George and Leon Noory - VA

“Walt I will miss you very much. It was great Fun Talking about Cars, Beach Homes & life. Heaven will be a much brighter Place with your smile to...Read More » ”
3 of 7 | Posted by: Jim Haley - Annapolis, MD

“It was always a pleasure having the General in our office (the Government Relations Office at Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.), where he worked on many...Read More » ”
4 of 7 | Posted by: Cynthia Downing Kepler - MD

“Cannot believe you are gone. I am sure Dad and Aunt Ginny were there to welcome you home but you will be missed here. I will always hear your voice....Read More » ”
5 of 7 | Posted by: DrueAnne Schreyer - State College, PA

“My thoughts and prayers are with the family. The "General" as I called him will truly be missed. Much love, Pamela Owens ”
6 of 7 | Posted by: Pamela Owens - Hampton, VA

“Walt will be greatly missed. The 8 A.M. church service will seem so strange without him sitting two rows in front of me.My prayers are with you. ...Read More » ”
7 of 7 | Posted by: Marsha Thompson - Gambrills, MD


Longanecker Jr., Major General Walter R. died January 28, 2012 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. Walt was born and raised in College Park, MD, not far from the oldest military airfield in the U.S., where he developed a keen interest in airplanes and flying. He earned a business degree at the University of Maryland just prior to WWII and an MBA just after the war.

Walt's Air Force career spanned over forty years, beginning with enlistment as an aviation cadet in 1942 and extending to his retirement as a Major General at the end of 1982. During WWII, he served in the 8th Air Force as a B-24 aircraft commander, completing forty-one night missions as a member of the secret 406th Bomb Squadron. He named his B-24 "Dark Eyes", a fitting name for its nighttime missions. At times when his B-24 was down for maintenance and repairs, he flew the B-17 in which he was dual-qualified as an aircraft commander.

In 1948, Walt married a lovely American Airlines flight attendant, "Ginny", at an historic Episcopal church in New York City known as "the little church around the corner". During a period when Walt reverted to reserve status, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of a think tank, Analytic Services Inc., "ANSER", created by The Rand Corporation. After Ginny's death in 1995, Walt moved from Alexandria, VA to Heritage Harbour, a seniors community near Annapolis, in order to be nearer his brother, Jerry and his family. In recent years, Walt was a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Crownsville, MD, where he served as a member of the Vestry, Lay Eucharistic Minister and Chairman of the church's Finance Committee.

Relatives and friends may call on Thursday, February 2 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at John M. Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis. A funeral service will be held on Friday, February 3 at 11:00 AM at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 1110 St. Stephen's Church Road, Crownsville, MD 21032. Walt will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors, with his beloved wife Ginny. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Stephen's Church.