Walter Herbert O'Briant's Obituary
Walter Herbert O’Briant of Austell, Georgia, died peacefully in hospice care at age 88.
He was born March 22, 1937, in Durham, North Carolina, to the late Ira David O’Briant and Ruth Annie McCollum O’Briant. His older brother, David Walker O’Briant, died before Walter was born. After moving throughout the upper Piedmont region of North Carolina due to his father’s work, the family settled in Reidsville when Walter was in the fourth grade.
He graduated from Reidsville High School in 1955 and from Davidson College, A.B. cum laude, in 1959, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophy from Emory University and taught college and university students for thirty-three years. He and his wife Mary lived in Athens from 1965-2009.
After retiring in 1995, he began a second career in computer technology. He taught at two technical schools and later founded a business providing on-site tutoring and technical support. He closed the business in 2009 and moved with Mary to Presbyterian Village in Austell, Georgia. There, he continued to provide technical help to those in his local community.
Walter was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Mary Prevette O’Briant, who died in August 2023.
He is survived by his daughters: Kathryn O’Briant Roper (Tracy) of Cumming, Georgia; Jennifer O’Briant Portnick (Jim) of Milwaukie, Oregon; and Erin Quinn O’Briant Heller (Laura) of Haarlem, the Netherlands.
He is also survived by his grandchildren: Callie Laird (Brian), Jace Roper (Diana), Mitch Roper (Sarah), and Jaynie Griffie (Jonathan); and by his great-grandchildren: *Alia and Ahrora Laird; Nolan Roper; and James and Luke Griffie.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Class of 1959 Fund of Davidson
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