TOPSHAM — Colonel Walter A. Guild, Jr. of Topsham, Maine died of natural causes on September 8, 2012. He was ninety years old at the time of his passing.

Colonel Guild was born in Milton, Massachusetts on March 14, 1922. He was the son of Colonel Walter A. Guild and Alice B. Guild. Following a year of engineering studies at MIT he followed his father into the Army by gaining an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1941. He earned academic stars at West Point and was a cadet company commander. Walter Guild loved West Point while he was there and throughout his entire life. He graduated in 1944 with a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers and embarked on a military career that would span the next twenty six years. His service to his country took him on assignments to France, Japan, Okinawa, Panama, and throughout the United States. He truly loved the Army and commanded soldiers at the platoon, company, and battalion level. He led a life fully committed to the West Point ethos of Duty, Honor, Country. His military service culminated with his assignment as the Senior Army Advisor to the Maine National Guard.

Walter Guild was a dedicated husband and father. He married Mimi Landis of San Francisco in 1946. They had three children- Judith, Walter III, and Peter. The family enjoyed the Army lifestyle and the opportunity to live and travel extensively in the United States and Europe. Walter and Mimi retired from the Army in 1970. They lived in Manchester, Maine from 1970 to1988 and then moved to Topsham. They enjoyed camping in Northern Maine, extended motor home trips to Florida and Mexico and their beloved dog Boo. Mimi Guild passed away in 1992. Walter was also predeceased by his daughter Judie Veilleux in March 2005.

Walter remarried Patricia Morrison Guild of Freeport, Maine in 1994. Walter and Pat spent the next ten years traveling the globe to Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Poland, China, and Alaska. They enjoyed football and the summer theater. They were a very lively couple and were very dedicated to each other. Patricia predeceased Walter in January 2012.

Walter suffered a stroke and a life threatening respiratory illness while returning from Alaska in 2003. Hospitalized for six weeks in a Seattle hospital he showed enormous grit and strength during his recovery and consequent therapy. While the aftermath of this illness ended his worldwide travels, Colonel Guild remained vitally engaged in reading, movies, the Boston Red Sox, and the New England Patriots. Colonel Guild was additionally extremely fond of a number of caregivers who became like family during his final years. His entire family is particularly grateful to Leanne Swilley, Barbara Marquis, Rochelle Russell, Rachel Russell and Rebecca Russell for their exceptional dedication and kindness to the man they called “The Colonel.” His family is also grateful to the wonderful care and compassion he received in his final year living at Cadigan Lodge at the Highlands in Topsham, Maine.

Family that are left to celebrate his long life of dedication to his country and family include: his son Walter A. Guild III and wife Patty of Farmingdale, Maine; his son Colonel Pete Guild, wife Kathie, and granddaughter Chelsea of Chapel Hill, N.C.; granddaughter Kelly Collins of Auburn, Maine; granddaughter Kristin Collins, her husband Brandon Lyons, and great grandsons Jacob and Kyle of Lewiston, Maine; grandson Kevin Collins and great granddaughter Kastile of Lewiston, Maine; and son in law Robert Veilleux of Lewiston, Maine.

A celebration of Colonel Guild’s life will be held on Saturday, September 15 at Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street, Brunswick from 2 to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM. A private burial service for family with full military honors will be held on a later date at the United States Military Academy at West Point.