Obituary for Walter Eric Golby
Walter Eric Golby, 85, of Lake Village, Arkansas passed away on Monday, January 30, 2023 at Chicot Memorial Hospital in Lake Village. Walt was born December 22, 1937 in South Weymouth, Massachusetts.
The Golby family moved to Parrish, FL in 1946 to join his grandparents in their horticulture nursery business. Walt was saved at an early age in Parrish, FL. He attended elementary school in Parrish and Ellenton, FL. He graduated from Manatee County High School in 1956, followed by two years in the Navy. In 1958, he joined the City of Bradenton, FL and eventually became City Clerk and Treasurer. Walt was instrumental in negotiating the deal that brought the Pittsburgh Pirates to Bradenton for Spring Training. In 1972, he became Stadium Manager at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1980, he moved to Miami to manage the Orange Bowl Stadium and four other city facilities. In 1991, Walt returned to work for the City of Bradenton. While living there he volunteered as a handyman doing repairs at the Mary House, a recovery house for women.
By then Bradenton had become so large he began looking for a new place to live. On a trip around the country in 2004, Walt saw houses built along the river as he made his way towards the Mississippi River. After he and Marlene met in Shaw, MS he wanted to go back and see those houses and found out they were built on Lake Chicot. Before he returned to Florida, Walt had called a realtor and looked at houses in Lake Village. Within a week, he had bought a house so he could retire in Lake Village. After his retirement in 2004 Walt and Marlene started working on the house. In 2007, Walt and Marlene married and they joined Lake Village Baptist Church where he served on the Finance Committee and as the financial resource person. He was a loyal supporter of the new building fund at Lake Village Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Eric and Sally Golby. He is survived by his wife Marlene of Lake Village, AR; daughter, Darby Kelly (John) of Parker, CO; son, Gary Golby (Kara) of Jacksonville, FL; stepson, Jimmy Burchfield (Cindy) of Cleveland, MS; stepson, Steven Burchfield (Jerri) of Cleveland, MS; sister, Janet Orlando of Bradenton, FL; granddaughter, Gillian Golby of Jacksonville, FL; grandson, Ty Golby of Jacksonville, FL; 6 step-grandchildren and 6 step-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at 10:00am-11:00am Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Lake Village Baptist Church, 301 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Village, AR 71653. Funeral service will follow at 11:00am at the church with Rev. Tim Chennault officiating. Graveside service will be held at 2:30pm at Interstate Baptist Church Cemetery, 948 Sandpit Road, Shaw, MS 38773. The family will receive friends from 3:00pm-4:00pm at Interstate Baptist Church following the graveside service.
The Golby family moved to Parrish, FL in 1946 to join his grandparents in their horticulture nursery business. Walt was saved at an early age in Parrish, FL. He attended elementary school in Parrish and Ellenton, FL. He graduated from Manatee County High School in 1956, followed by two years in the Navy. In 1958, he joined the City of Bradenton, FL and eventually became City Clerk and Treasurer. Walt was instrumental in negotiating the deal that brought the Pittsburgh Pirates to Bradenton for Spring Training. In 1972, he became Stadium Manager at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1980, he moved to Miami to manage the Orange Bowl Stadium and four other city facilities. In 1991, Walt returned to work for the City of Bradenton. While living there he volunteered as a handyman doing repairs at the Mary House, a recovery house for women.
By then Bradenton had become so large he began looking for a new place to live. On a trip around the country in 2004, Walt saw houses built along the river as he made his way towards the Mississippi River. After he and Marlene met in Shaw, MS he wanted to go back and see those houses and found out they were built on Lake Chicot. Before he returned to Florida, Walt had called a realtor and looked at houses in Lake Village. Within a week, he had bought a house so he could retire in Lake Village. After his retirement in 2004 Walt and Marlene started working on the house. In 2007, Walt and Marlene married and they joined Lake Village Baptist Church where he served on the Finance Committee and as the financial resource person. He was a loyal supporter of the new building fund at Lake Village Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Eric and Sally Golby. He is survived by his wife Marlene of Lake Village, AR; daughter, Darby Kelly (John) of Parker, CO; son, Gary Golby (Kara) of Jacksonville, FL; stepson, Jimmy Burchfield (Cindy) of Cleveland, MS; stepson, Steven Burchfield (Jerri) of Cleveland, MS; sister, Janet Orlando of Bradenton, FL; granddaughter, Gillian Golby of Jacksonville, FL; grandson, Ty Golby of Jacksonville, FL; 6 step-grandchildren and 6 step-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at 10:00am-11:00am Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Lake Village Baptist Church, 301 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Village, AR 71653. Funeral service will follow at 11:00am at the church with Rev. Tim Chennault officiating. Graveside service will be held at 2:30pm at Interstate Baptist Church Cemetery, 948 Sandpit Road, Shaw, MS 38773. The family will receive friends from 3:00pm-4:00pm at Interstate Baptist Church following the graveside service.