Walter Thomas Candelari
Walter Thomas Candelari, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away Thursday, November 7, 2024 at the age of 81. He was born in Houston, Texas on July 4, 1943 to parents, Anthony Candelari and Margaret Rita Saracco Candelari.
Walter graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1961 and received his BA in Education from St. Thomas University in 1965. He started his career in education at Our Lady of Lourdes, then moved on to O’Connell Junior High in Galveston. There he taught 9th grade English and also directed the drama club. After receiving his MA in Education Administration at the University of Houston Clear Lake, he was promoted to principal. In 1979, he moved to Dickinson and was assistant principal at McAdams Junior High and Dickinson High School. He later joined Clear Creek ISD and was assistant principal in League City Intermediate and Clear Brook High School. He retired as principal of Clear Lake Intermediate after 40 years in education. All during this time, he also served in law enforcement as a Reserve Officer with the Galveston County Sheriff’s Department. After his teaching retirement, he went to work for the Sheriff’s Department, first in Mental Health, then in Environmental Crimes. After leaving the SD, he joined the Dickinson Police Department in community policing. While there, he had a weekly column in The Daily News called Crime Corner for two years. He retired from the PD in August, 2017, one day before Hurricane Harvey deposited water inside his home.
Walter met his wife, Patricia Kay Hutto, in 1970 at the wedding of a friend in Hereford, Texas. He was an usher; she a bridesmaid. On the ride back to Houston with the other groomsmen, he told them “I met the girl I’m going to marry”. They all responded he was crazy, but 2 ½ years later he and Patricia were married on December 23, 1972. They were blessed with one daughter, Lisa Diane in 1977.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife, Patricia Hutto Candelari, daughter, Lisa Diane Dubeck and her husband, Bradley Joseph Dubeck, twin granddaughters, Emily Brooke Dubeck and Allison Pagie Dubeck and grandson, Thomas Bradley Dubeck. He also leaves behind his brother, Allen David Candelari, brother-in-law, Stan Hutto and his wife, Sharon and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
In his honor a visitation will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 5:00-7:00pm with a funeral service on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 11:00am in the Crowder Funeral Home Chapel Dickinson, with Reverend David Buco officiating. Graveside committal service will follow at Forest Park East.
Candelari Family,
With the deepest condolences on behalf of a friend of the family and the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, your loss has not only sorrowed me but also the community. We all strive to be someone who makes a difference. The number of lives Walt touched serving as an educator and an officer for over four decades are in the tens of thousands. Many are luckier than me to have know him, to have been taught by him, and to have been loved by him. Heaven is a better place because he is there. We will see him again.
With deepest, and heart warming condolences to the Candelari family. He wasn’t just a friend, but someone I would strive to be like on many levels. He was the helping hand and the ear that I used while at McAdams. Mr. Candelari touched so many life’s during his school days and as a Reserve GCSO. He once pulled me over while driving John Walls 1976 Ford LTD. LOL. When he saw who I was, he gave me a warning for spinning the tires and told me he’d see me on Monday morning. To his word, he called me into his office and we had that ‘talk’. He explained to me 3 weeks prior, he worked a fatality accident, and expressed upon me the responsibility of having my driving privileges and how easily life can be extinguished with poor choices.
This was the man I knew……. Mr. Candelari, you sir will be missed.
Sorry for your loss.