Walter Mahala
Walt Mahala, 83, of Abingdon, VA passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon, VA. He was born in Washington County, VA on March 9, 1942, a son of the late Millard and Minnie Mahala. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, James Mahala, Howard Mahala, John Mahala, W.B. Mahala, and Millard Jr Mahala; and two sisters, Rachel Mahala and Ethel Fizer.
At 12 years old Walt was taken in by Robert Porterfield who raised him to be the man he was. Poppa P, as he called him, sent him to Wentworth Military Academy. He spent summers touring with Barter Theater. After coming home and graduating from Abingdon High School he joined the Air Force where he did a tour in Vietnam. After 9 years and six months of service he came back home to Washington County, VA where he married Kathi and after the birth of their first daugther, Elizabeth, he joined the Navy. He was first stationed in Illinois and then on to Little Creek in the Virginia Beach area where they welcomed their son, James Robert. He was then stationed in Scotland where he retired with 20 years of service. He came back to Washington County where he spent the rest of his life. Welcoming the twins, Heather and Holli, and finishing his electronics career as an instructor at Northeast Correctional Facility and was formerly on the Board of Directors for the Housing Authority for People Inc. He was a loyal and trustworthy husband, an amazing father, and a terrific Popeye who loved his grandkids. He was a man who would do anything for anyone. Everyone that knew Walt knew he was an avid golfer and most of the time you could find him on the golf course where he accumulated a total of 13 holes-in-one and made many friends over the years.
Walt is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Kathi L. Mahala; three daughters, Elizabeth Bagwell and her husband, Jason, of Waterloo, SC, Heather Mahala and her husband, Justin Frye, of Glade Spring, VA and Holli Mahala of Abingdon, VA; one son, James Robert Mahala of Mesa, AZ; five grandchildren, Dimitri Wells, Lorelai Bagwell, Abigail Mahala, Alan Mahala, and Harlo Frye; three brothers, Earnest Mahala, Paul Mahala and his wife, Judith, and Dewey Mahala; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at Garrett Funeral Home. Military rites will follow at 2:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard and Highlands Veterans Honor Guard. He will be laid to rest at a later date at the V.A. National Cemetery in Mountain Home, TN. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675. Condolences for the family may be sent and viewed by visiting www.garrettfuneralhome.com. Mr. Mahala and his family are in the care of Garrett Funeral Home, 203 N. Shady Ave., Damascus, VA 24236; ph.#: (276) 475-3631.