Walter E. Lange

May 13, 1925 to August 17, 2020

One year ago Walter E. Lange became one of the many people who passed away from Covid 19. On this one year anniversary of his death we wish to pay tribute to the life he led and acknowledge his passing.

Walter was born in San Francisco on May 13th in 1925, the son of German immigrants. His parents, Walter and Margaret, came to America after the First World War determined to make a new life in America. Little Walter was their first born son, soon followed by his brother Stanley three years later. The family moved to Daly City about the time Walter began school, and he graduated from Jefferson High School. World War II was in full swing at that time, so upon graduation in 1943 he joined the Army Air Force, which was the service he preferred due to his lifelong love of airplanes. He served as a mechanic for the great bombers like the B-17 and B-29, which contributed greatly to the Allied victory in the war. Determined to remain in aviation after the war he went to work for United Airlines, becoming first a mechanic and then an aircraft inspector. He served with United Airlines for 44 years before his retirement.

In 1951 Walter married Joyce Biancalana. They had two sons, Douglas and David, and lived first in Daly City and then South San Francisco. Upon Joyce’s death in 2012 he moved to Sunrise in Petaluma to be closer to his elder son. While living there he continued his lifelong fascination with aviation, going to the air shows in Santa Rosa whenever he could. He lived a long and happy life before his death last year.

He is survived by both of his sons, his daughterin-law Susan Lange and her children and grandchildren, his sister-in-law Frances Lange (wife of Stanley, who passed early this year) two nephews, Clifford and Christopher Lange and his niece Karen Saunders and her husband Gregg Saunders.

We, his sons, wish to pay tribute to his life on this, the first anniversary of his passing. Dad, we miss you and will never forget the love you had for us.