De Lear, Walter Walker 83, passed away early morning on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at his home in Springfield, Missouri. He is survived by his loving wife Daisy, daughter Gillian, son Byron, step-daughters Shelly Alexander, Donna Lindsey, daughterin-law Vicki Englund, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Walter was a big man and known for having a great zest and exuberance for life; with his booming baritone voice and laugh, he was considered by many to be the most kind, generous, and big-hearted person they knew. He was surrounded by loved ones and family at the time of his passing. Walter was born on July 22, 1933 in San Francisco, California to entertainers Walter and Carrobell De Lear (nee Walker). He was educated at Palo Alto Military Academy and San Rafael Military Academy and later served in the Korean War as an Air Force top-secret courier and onair talent for Armed Forces Radio. Walter married music educator Wilma Ruth De Lear (1925-2005, nee Cole) in 1961 and they had two children, Gillian in 1963, and Byron in 1966. Walter studied voice with Dame Eva Turner of the Royal Academy of Music in London and performed bass-baritone roles with several opera companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and later with the St. Louis Muny Opera and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. One of his most beloved characters was Rosina Daintymouth the highly animated and colorful witch in Humperdinck's opera, Hansel and Gretel. For nearly two decades, Wilma and Walter were organist and soloist at the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Town and Country and both taught at Principia Upper School in St. Louis. They produced two albums together I Sought the Lord, in 1993 and I'll Walk With God in 1995. After Wilma passed in 2005, Walter remarried in 2007 to Daisy Lindsey, Wilma's 1st cousin from the Wynkoop family based in Eudora, MO. Walter relocated to Springfield, MO where he was active with the men's choir at Battlefield Assembly of God Church and became a cherished and indispensable grandpa to Daisy's extended family. Daisy and Walter spent nine beautiful years together and he was the love of her life. Walter was one-of-akind, deeply loved, and will be sorely missed. Services: Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday with funeral services performed Pastor Richard Orrell at 2 p.m. on November 19, 2016 at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 Seminole, Springfield, MO 65809. Burial will be immediately following at Rose Hill Cemetery in Willard, MO.