Walter Cooper Sandusky's Obituary
Walter Cooper Sandusky was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, on December 20, 1923. He was well-known to have been a lively and engaging little boy. Anyone can know from his stories that he was full of joy of life and also full of mischief. From these early days he had a great love of humanity and a powerful appreciation for the natural world.He spent many of his childhood and youth hours outside in the beauty of nature, often riding his beloved horse or playing with his goat and cart or hunting with his father, who was also a dentist. Because he truly loves people, he always had many friends and an eye to adventure. He played some funny tricks in school, climbed water towers, rode his horse fast across the fields in the country, and otherwise enjoyed life to the fullest.It being time to move on to the more serious part of life, he entered the University of Mississippi in 1940 and went on to dental school at the University of Tennessee, where he excelled.He served the United States of America as a Captain in the Air Force during World War II, on the Panama Canal Zone. Soon after, he made the decision to specialize in orthodontics, graduating in 1951. A favored student of Dr. Charles Tweed (who learned orthodontics from Dr. Edward Angle, founder of the first school of orthodontics) Walter came into his own as an orthodontist, where his talents as a creative artist and engineer came into play. He invented tools and appliances and put the ones already invented to better use. His work was exemplary and highly prized. He became a Fellow in the American Board of Orthodontists because of his leadership, contributions to the profession, and contributions to the society. Further, his talents as a person who loves people manifested as well. He once said, “I wanted to spend my days with kids. This has made me happy.” He practiced actively until he was 88 years old.Thus, he also made himself happy at home: Walter married the singer and choir director Lois Philpot in 1949. The daughter of a famous Mississippi surgeon, she attended Blue Mountain college and graduated in music from Southwestern University (now Rhodes). She also has spent her life caring for those who needed her through missions and volunteer work. They brought forth seven children, who ultimately yielded them twenty-three grandchildren, a houseful of happiness for them all. Their days and nights were full of the old mischief and fun from Walter’s childhood, which he revisited frequently. Now all his children are college educated professionals.Having had so many hobbies that it would be difficult to recount them all, Walter settled on painting as a pastime. His true inner artistic self rejoiced to make pictures in oils and in acrylics. He sculpted as well, casting a bronze of one of these sculptures. All of his art is related to the natural world, which brought him high happiness all his life, from the boyhood rides in the country to his hikes in high mountains to his enjoyment of his yard and farm in the country. He celebrates the beauty of nature every time he picks up a paint brush.Perhaps the most important part of Walter’s career was his teaching. Because of his work with student orthodontists at the University of Tennessee for sixty-one years, there are countless people who have been touched by his professionalism. Having lectured at conferences throughout this country and the world (i.e., England and Cuba), Walter also affected the practices of orthodontists worldwide. About his profession he once said, addressing younger members of the profession, “Continue to train yourself to carry out the responsibilities of treating your patients, always striving for excellence in all procedures. Do not set getting rich as a goal. If we treat all patients as we should, the economics will take care of itself.” One of his children is an orthodontist, and one is a teacher—both emulating him. All five of his daughters make art, also emulating him. His other son is a pilot, embodying a dream that Walter had all his life. In 2014 Walter received the Joseph and Louise Ada Jarabak Award for excellence in teaching. It is given annually by the American Association of Orthodontist’s Foundation to the person who has made significant contributions to orthodontic education.Service to humanity has been a consistent part of Walter’s life, because of his love for people. He is a past president of the East Memphis Rotary Club, overseeing during his tenure the support of a downtrodden school in Memphis and volunteering himself to serve at that school. He received the Rotary Humanitarian Award. As president of the Memphis Dental Society, he spearheaded efforts to support children’s dental health.Walter’s service to First Baptist Church has been constant and commendable, throughout every week of his life. He was Superintendent of Sunday School, Chairman of Deacons, and Chairman of Finance. He taught Sunday School through last Sunday and sang baritone in the Chancel Choir for 67 years.He was the national president of the Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship, giving much energy to helping people in need, not only in organizing missions for others but also in giving his own time and talent to ease the pain and help the lives of those who suffer.Walter’s mission trips included twenty-two tours to Nicaragua, India, Romania, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and his beloved Uganda. Often taking his wife or one of his children or grandchildren along to serve, he labored from daylight until dark at these missions, trying to make the most difference he could. He was 92 years old, and the last trip he did was 4 and a half years ago, when he went to Uganda to the dedication of the Dental Building named in his honor.Important to him was bringing the story of Jesus’ example to everyone, for he takes seriously Christ’s Great Commission that Christians go to all lands taking the beautiful truth of salvation to people who might otherwise never get to hear it. All the while he enjoyed himself richly, too, taking great pleasure in the landscapes and animals of the lands where he brought his talents and energy. It goes without saying that he always sprinkled in a little bit of mischief and fun here and there along the way, to entertain the folks.He leaves Lois his wife of sixty-seven years, seven children—Lois, Libba, Dale, Cooper, Grace, Marie, and John and their spouses, twenty-four grandchildren, and twenty-one great grandchildren.Saturday morning the family will gather privately for a graveside service at Memorial Park Cemetery. His memorial service with family and friends will be held at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church on Saturday, November 5. Visitation with his family will immediately follow the service at the church. For people who desire to send memorials: First Baptist Church, 200 E. Parkway, Memphis TN 38112 or Restoration Gateway mission in Uganda, 4300 W. Waco Dr. B2-314, Waco TX 76710. His services have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis TN 38119, (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life….Behind the Stone Wall.”
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