Walter Richard Prasifka

Walter Richard Prasifka, 94, passed peacefully, away October 3, 2022.

Visitation: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at Biggers Funeral Home.

Rosary: 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 12, 2022, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5953 Bowman Roberts Rd, Fort Worth.

Mass: 10:30 a.m., following Rosary

Interment: 2:00 p.m., Calvary Hill Cemetery, 3235 Lombardy Lane, Dallas.

Everyone wishing to go to the burial should just meet there.

Walter was born in Dallas, Texas, June 19, 1928 as the middle child of Charles and Henrietta Prasifka. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School and after graduating went to college at SMU. At SMU he belonged to Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and played Coronet in the marching band. In 1949 he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He immediately went to work at what is now Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas. Also in 1949, he married the love of his life Helen Delores Villars. Through the years at Lockheed, he helped develop the electronic designs of a variety of fighter jets and defense systems. He retired after 45 years of service to the defense industry.

Walter and Helen traveled for the company their first few years of marriage, living on the East and West Coast. In 1958 they returned to Fort Worth where they bought their first and only home in Lakeside, Texas. Walter was a founding member of this North of Fort Worth township. He served in various roles from Mayor to Councilman through the years. At the same time, they became members of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Fort Worth and sent their children to school there. Walter was involved in many activities of service there from being a Lector at Mass to helping make and distribute sandwiches for the homeless downtown.

Walter had a variety of interests throughout the years changing as he grew older. Always his family, wife, and children were his main focus. He loved to hike miles, taking his children around the lake and the hills around the Lakeside area. Family bike rides in the countryside was often a family weekend activity. He loved to lay on a blanket at night under the stars and tell us kid’s stories of space and watch for meteors. He loved to fish, salt water or fresh. At night he would read us stories of mythical creatures or make up his own funny Guinea Hen stories. Walter loved to play ping pong and once won a neighborhood trophy. He was a voracious reader of books from science fiction to political biographies. Since college he had a love for music and dancing. His favorites were Big Band, Jazz and later Country Western. His dancing was fantastic, and everyone loved to be his dance partner. He was always ready for the newest dance from the Tango to Zorba the Greek and the Twist. Walter and Helen’s New Year Eve Anniversary parties were a neighborhood event for many years with music and dancing for all. There was always the once a year traveling family vacations in an un-airconditioned station wagon to the West Coast, Grand Canyon, Colorado, Yellowstone, Arkansas and Missouri. He was always ready to buy the newest electrical gadget and loved CB radios of the day.

In his middle empty nest years, after helping two kids graduate from college, Helen and Walter expanded their travels to Europe, Greece, the Caribbean, Bahamas and their favorite Hawaii. They enjoyed lake boating and fishing. They continued to be active in Church activities and service. As time went on more of their trips were visiting relatives in California and helping take care of grandkids. As always Walter loved football and was a hardcore Dallas Cowboy fan.

In Walter’s elder years, as mobility decreased, he looked forward to all the family gatherings and watching the grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow and play. His occasional trips were more limited to East Texas, Galveston, and Missouri. Walter in a crowd was mostly a quiet man, but one-on-one he could talk way into night about a variety of subjects from politics to religion to history and economics. He had wise insight into many of life’s issues and knowledge of many areas. All of us will miss those into the night long discussions. He was a caring and loving husband, father and grandfather who was always ready to help us when needed or listen to us when we needed an ear to vent.

The years of COVID 19 were hard for him as it cut off so many of the things he loved family and Church. However, at the end, he still loved music and even sang from his hospital bed the songs he loved. He was peaceful at the end. His only regret was leaving his wife of 73 years behind, Helen, his one true great love. He will be sorely missed by all.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Henrietta Prasifka; his stepmom, Dorthy Prasifka; his son, Walter Ray Prasifka; sister, Mildred Baleja and husband, Leonard; brother, Raymond Prasifka and wife, Millie.

Walter is survived by: wife, Helen Villars Prasifka; daughter, Pam Hickman and husband, Dennis; son, Mark Prasifka and wife, Diana; grandchildren, Raissa Miller and husband, Travis, Nathaniel Hickman, Carson Hickman, Charles Prasifka and wife, Elizaveta, and Jacob Prasifka; great-grandchildren, Ryah Marie Miller and Stevie June Miller; and a host of nieces and nephews.