Walter Hoskins was born September 15, 1926, in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, to Walter and Nell Hoskins. He died on January 27, 2008, at his home in Santa Maria at the age of 81.

Walter grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and joined the United States Navy after completing his high school education. He served in the South Pacific during World War II. After his military service, he studied electronic engineering in Michigan before working for Kaiser Aerospace in Alamagordo, New Mexico. He was involved in engineering projects for Gemini and Apollo at Cape Canaveral, Florida, and when Walter came to Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1970, he worked on the Titan and Minuteman projects.

Walter studied at Allan Hancock College and LaVerne University, earning a B.A. degree in Economics in 1976. After retiring as an engineer he purchased two businesses in Lompoc, City Appliance and Jet Action Laundry North.

Walter enjoyed restoring cars and was a member of the Lompoc Elks Lodge #2274. He was also a member of St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church in Santa Maria.

His wife of 63 years, Mary; his daughter and son-in-law, Jeanine and John Meister of Titusville, Florida, son, Thomas Hoskins of Lompoc, daughter and son-in-law, Sara and Patrick Sheppard of Santa Maria, and son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Cindy Hoskins of Santa Maria; sister, Esther Rittichier of Toledo, Ohio; eight grandchildren, and six great grandchildren survive Walter.

A visitation will be held between 4 and 7 PM and a vigil at 5 PM on Thursday, January 31, 2008, in the Chapel of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary in Lompoc. Father John Mayhew will celebrate a funeral mass at 9 AM on Friday, February 1, 2008, at St. Luis de Montfort Catholic Church in Santa Maria. Interment with military honors will be in the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 604 E. Ocean Avenue, Lompoc, CA 93436.