Walter A. Churchill, Jr.

Walter A. Churchill, Jr., age 97, of Perrysburg, passed away Wednesday, June 10th, 2026, at Swan Creek. Walt was born March 1, 1929, in Toledo to Walter Augustus and Dorothy Helen (King) Churchill. Walt married Nancy Brechenser in 1952; they were married 21 years and raised three children. In 1974, Walt married Lois Rowley and they shared 48 years together until her passing in 2022. Walt graduated from DeVilbiss High School in1947 and completed a BBA degree from the University of Toledo in 1966. In 1976 he graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Walt joined the Marine Corps Reserve unit (under the command of his father, Walter A. Churchill, Sr.) in1947. The reserve unit was activated in 1950 and he boarded a ship with 40 men from Toledo bound for Inchon during the Korean War. As part of C Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, he served in Inchon and saw combat in the battle of the frozen Chosin Reservoir, becoming one of the 'Frozen Chosen.' After 9 months in Korea, Walt returned home and was released from active duty in 1951. He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve and switched from Marine Corps Infantry to Marine Corps Aviation after 10 years of service. Walt retired with 30 years of service in 1977 as a Master Gunnery Sergeant. Once a Marine, always a Marine. He proudly carried his military ID card in his wallet and liked to say that he was "USMC Reserve, currently unattached." Walt was a lifelong avid runner. He ran cross country and track at DeVilbiss High School and then at the University of Toledo and in the Marine Corps. He was one of the founders of the Toledo Roadrunners which started the Glass City Marathon in 1971. He started Churchill's Half Marathon in 1967, reportedly the second oldest race in Ohio and is one of the oldest half-marathons in the country. He ran the Boston Marathon into his sixties, for 22 years in a row. He and his wife Lois made a large donation to upgrade the running track at Perrysburg High School and the completed track was named the Walt Churchill Track in his honor. Walt was also an avid skier. He started Walt's Adventure Shop in 1968 as an outgrowth of his love for skiing and he and his wife Lois supplied the local skiing community with equipment and apparel for 25 years. They had family members on ski trips to Utah, Colorado, and Wisconsin to introduce them to the sport. He was well known for his love of dogs. He and his wife Lois had black labradors, always females named Cid, all similar in appearance but each with her own personality. He always carried dog treats in his pocket and was ready to reward Cid, his grand-dogs, or dogs of people he met on his frequent walks. Walt and his wife Lois were members of the Catawba Island Club (CIC) for over 40 years and spent many summer weekends on their boat New Adventure, even into their 90s. They had many dear friends on B Dock and hosted family events and summer reunions at the club. He also sailed their Boston Whaler and Zodiac on trips to Kelly's Island, Put-in-Bay, Middle Bass, and North Bass Islands and along the Maumee River. Walt was active in the Rotary Club for most of his life and wholeheartedly embraced its motto: "Service above self." He was a past president of the Toledo Rotary Club (1985-1986) and had the distinction of never, ever missing a Rotary meeting. As of Sept 30, 2019, Walt had 2670 weeks or over 51 years of perfect meeting attendance. Since the Rotary Club is worldwide, his attendance record included attending Rotary meetings throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. He was also a member of the Shriners International. Walt may be best remembered in Toledo as a grocer. He was born into the grocery business founded in 1917 by his grandfather and father. Walt worked there as a kid and, later, worked with his father, General Walter A. Churchill, to keep the company healthy. After the General passed away in 1998, there was a period of transition after which Walt assumed control of the company with the goal to maintain the vision of his father and grandfather and keep Churchill's at the forefront of the Toledo grocery business. Despite attempted partnerships with other grocery store chains in the area, Walt Jr. always felt that no other store could capture the heart and soul of his father's legacy, so he purchased the Briarfield location in 2005 and repurchased the Perrysburg location in 2009, branding both as the Walt Churchill's Market that you see today. To ensure that his family legacy would continue into future generations, in 2019, Walt restructured Walt Churchill's Market as a 100 Employee-Owned Company. As a member of the Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), he was awarded The Lou Fox Community Service Award, in honor of his outstanding leadership and commitment to the community, for upholding the values of AWG. Walt is survived by his children Gail (Louis Tijerina) Churchill and David Churchill; step-daughters Cynthia Conway, Lynn Darr, and Leigh (David) Tremp; grandchildren Joseph Churchill, Anne Tijerina, and David Tijerina; step-grandchildren Jessica Stein, Trevor Weidner, Sarah Conway, and Megan Conway; five step great-grandchildren (Alex and Zachary, Kelsey and Mason; and Mara), one step-great-great grandchild (Stella), and many extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Carolyn Colwell, his wife Lois, son Walter Churchill III, step-son-in-law Dean Conway, granddaughter Jessalyn Churchill, as well as many extended family members and dear friends. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 18 from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., Toledo, OH 43614. Additional visitation will begin in the funeral home on Friday, June 19 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 10:00 a.m. Graveside Services will follow at Ft. Meigs Cemetery for Family and Churchill employees only please. A lunch reception will follow at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Toledo Jazz Orchestra ( ) or the Toledo Area Salvation Army ( ). Please view and sign Walt's online guest registry at CoyleFuneralHome.com

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Walter A. Churchill, Jr.

March 1, 1929 - June 10, 2026