Arthur Paul "Art" Walter

II Tim. 4:7: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing."

Arthur Paul “Art” Walter, 73, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2026, with family by his side at home in Clarkesville, Georgia following a years-long battle with MSA (Multiple System Atrophy).

Art grew up in St. Louis, MO. He was always involved in family camping and sports, especially baseball, and pitched a no-hitter at the age of 8 in Little League. He served as an altar boy and attended Catholic schools, running track and graduating from St Thomas Aquinas High School before following his best friend Tony to NJ at age 19. There he started attending Risen Son Coffeehouse and later Metuchen Assembly of God, where he began his personal relationship with Jesus. He also at the same time met his sweetheart Nancy there, and they started their journey in music ministry together. They first formed a group called “New Birth” and sang together in many coffeehouses in the area, then at the Bowery Mission in NYC, then leading worship in various churches they attended over the years.

At Metuchen Assembly of God, he served as Deacon, Elder, head of the Building Committee, head of the Worship department, occasional interpreter for the deaf, and in Visitation. Later at Evangel Church in Scotch Plains, he served as a worship leader, Deacon, Elder, and led their Alpha program with his wife Nancy for six years. He and Nancy were also worship leaders at IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Cranford, NJ. He was employed for 20 years with Medi+Physics in South Plainfield, NJ making radioactive pharmaceuticals, then with David Dallenbach in church bond sales, then was self-employed as a computer consultant for 30+ years until his retirement.

In October 2022, his daughter Erin (a nurse) and her husband Caleb came to Art and Nancy saying that the Lord was leading them to move to Caleb’s family’s farm in Georgia and build a house and asked them to pray about coming to live with them eventually in their own suite. They said “yes.” Within two months, Art’s condition started going downhill, eventually being diagnosed with MSA, a rare, debilitating, progressive and terminal disease. Erin said later that she knew something was going to happen to her dad but didn’t want to worry them so she hadn’t said anything initially. So even in this time of troubles, the Lord showed the family that He was with them all along, in everything, faithful every step of the way.

The joys of Art’s life were his relationship with Jesus, leading people in worship, his wife Nancy, twins Pattie and Erin along with their husbands and children, and close friends. He loved his new home in Georgia, especially having all of his children and grandchildren together in the same house for the last six months of his time on earth. And now he has graduated to his eternal home and reward in heaven with his beloved Savior, free from the struggles and pain of life.

Art was preceded in death by his parents, Grover and Margaret, and his older sister Barbara. Surviving are his devoted wife of 50 years, Nancy, his beloved daughters Pattie Stutzman and Erin Smith, their husbands Jake and Caleb, and his precious grandchildren, Tyler, Aidan, Anna, Landon, Carter, and Belle, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family, the Monday night Men’s Zoom fellowship of over 40 years, The “Crew”, and close friends.

A memorial service will be held at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to 

The Torch, 800 Cannon Bridge Rd Demorest, GA 30535    https://app.securegive.com/thetorch, 

Convoy of Hope, P.O. Box 1125 Springfield, MO 65801     https://convoyofhope.org/donate/, or 

Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607    https://www.samaritanspurse.org/.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandmcentire.com

McGahee-Griffin & McEntire Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.