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World War II vet worked in law enforcement

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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer 5:48 PM Thursday, January 26, 2012

HAMILTON — Walter F. “Wally” Mayer, a longtime Cincinnati Reds fan who loved being involved in law enforcement, died Monday at Berkeley Square Special Care Unit in Hamilton. He was 86.

He was a lifelong resident of Hamilton and a graduate of Hamilton High School before honorably serving his country in the Army Air Corps during World War II, when he was stationed primarily in Italy.

Mayer spent the bulk of his career as an officer and eventually became president of Columbia Federal Savings and Loan.

He spent 30 years as president of Hamilton Lodge #19 of the Fraternal Order of Police Associates and was an auxiliary officer with the Hamilton Police Department for 30 years.

“I never met anybody who enjoyed working his entire life,” said his son, Sgt. Monte Mayer, a spokesman for the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. “He felt that working kept him involved with people and kept him involved in the community. That was my dad.”

Hamilton Police Chief Neil Ferdelman said he knew Mayer all his life since their fathers worked together for the Hamilton Police Department.

“I think Wally was the kind of individual that put service above self. He was always the first one to step up to volunteer to better serve the community. He had a particular love for law enforcement because his father was a lifelong Hamilton police officer,” he said.

Upon his retirement from banking, he remained active and served as a captain for the sheriff’s office.

Mayer was later a jury clerk and court liaison officer for the Butler County Clerk of Courts. He also served as an ombudsman for the city of Hamilton in the Department of Economic Development, retiring in 2006.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Weigel Funeral Home, 980 Northwest Washington Boulevard, Hamilton. Burial will be in Rose Hill Burial Park.

Memorials may be directed to The Colonial Foundation for Berkeley Square Special Care Unit, 520 Eaton Ave., Hamilton, Ohio, 45013, Westwood Presbyterian Church, 1068 Stahlheber Road, Hamilton, Ohio, 45013, or Hospice of Hamilton, 1010 Eaton Ave., Hamilton, Ohio, 45013.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.

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