Walter Reuben (Jake) Etheridge of Lake Waccamaw, NC passed away on August 4, 2022 in Wilmington, NC surrounded by his family. He was 73.
Walt was born on May 12, 1949 to the late Walter and Estelle Etheridge. He graduated from Hallsboro High School , where his friends nicknamed him “Jake” and it stuck. He earned his Associate in Claims and worked as a Property Insurance Adjuster for nearly 40 years, a career that took him up and down the East Coast, often in the wake of hurricanes.
Walt met his lovely wife, Charlie, after he was hired to take her job from her. Thus, their first encounter didn’t go very well. Not one to give up easily, he pursued her, and they were married on July 14, 1979 in Charlotte. They recently celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary.
Walt was incredibly proud of his two sons, LCDR Richard Hathaway and Walter Dustin Etheridge. He loved his daughters-in-laws, Rachel Hathaway and Kristy Etheridge, and he took great joy in his three grandchildren, Nate Hathaway and Noah and Olivia Etheridge.
Walt will be greatly missed by his sister, Louise Sellers, her daughter, Kim Gonzalez, Kim’s husband, Danny and their son, River. He will also be sorely missed by his younger brother, John Etheridge, who stuck by his side until the end, John’s wife, Kathy and their daughter, Rebecca.
Charlie and Walt lived all across North Carolina, including Charlotte, Carolina Beach, Mooresville, Salisbury and Lake Waccamaw. They also spent several years in Conyers, Georgia. They were members of First Presbyterian Church in Mooresville and Lake Waccamaw Presbyterian Church. Walt’s family takes comfort in trusting that he has finally been healed once and for all by his Savior, Jesus Christ.
A graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn West Cemetery in Charlotte at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. Donations in Walt’s honor can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or to the National Kidney Foundation.
