The Dallas Firefighters Museum humbly acknowledges his dedication to his Family, The Dallas Fire Department, and the Citizens of the City of Dallas. Rest in peace, Sir…….
Driver Engineer David W. Walters LODD November 23, 2018
The following was written by his wife, Kristi, and is a very meaningful tribute to David:
When my boys were little, every night from the time they could talk, they asked me if their daddy was going to be home tomorrow. And, I always said, yes. Or maybe, no, he’ll be at work. And I often wondered if they asked that because they liked daddy more than me. But maybe they were just wondering … Is daddy really going to come home tomorrow? So, we would tuck them into bed and pray for daddy and all the other firemen out there taking care of us, because that’s where the firemen are. Always taking care of us, especially in their own homes.
Fireman Dave told me that back in rookie school the instructor told them to “look around … look around at the faces in this room. THESE are the only ones who will ever understand what you do, because they do it too, and these guys need the support of each other as the years go on to deal with some of the things they see and do”. (And no, Chicago Fire isn’t really accurate, it’s TV.)
Years ago, when we were still new to this business, I asked a friend, also a fire wife, about some things. I asked her how I’m not supposed to worry and be afraid every time my husband goes to work. Her answer was simple, really: A husband isn’t ours to hold on to. He is a gift of this particular moment in life, shared for the moments we have together, the best way we can. And, if that goes away tomorrow, then make sure we did good with what we had. Good answer, wise woman. So, I never really spent a lot of time thinking about the possible dangers of the day. I couldn’t. If I did, I’d go crazy with possibility. So, I did my thing, and he did his, and I spent a lifetime telling the boys that daddy would be home tomorrow. Then, we’d pray.
David and I first met when he was 11 and I was 13—when he moved to Dallas, and in a blink, we became forever friends, lifetime loves, and the world’s best story began. In addition to me, David is survived by our three sons, Ethan, Christopher, and Sam; sister Debby Mallette and husband Charles Mallette; sister Susan Walters; brother Patrick Walters; and brother Michael Walters and his wife, Barbara; nieces and nephews Adam, Amy, Randy, Jenny, Kimberly, Michael, Rachael, Cherish, Brittany, Lexi, Livi, Luci, and their spouses and children.
David was a proud 20-year servant of the City of Dallas as a firefighter and paramedic, and he loved on the people of this city like he did his own family. He was an active volunteer in his kids’ schools, a leader
in Scouts, semi-pro concessions seller/hot dog griller for his kids’ sports teams, and an eager helper for just about anything else Kristi told him to. (That last line was a joke, y’all.) He was creative, busy, and a work-so-hard-he-forgot-to-stop-and-eat kind of hard worker. He was a voracious reader, self-taught Biblical Scholar, and safe keeper of more trivial information than a mind should be allowed to hold; He was a protector, a planner, and soother of broken hearts. He was a handyman, loyal friend, crazy Facebook instigator of political arguments, religious debates, and deep discussions. But mostly he was a loving, strong, and brave superhero to his family. David was a firefighter, family man and friend.
Family will receive friends from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Friday, November 30, 2018, at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. A Celebration of David’s Life will be at 10:00am on Saturday, December 1, 2018, also at Wilshire Baptist Church.