Walter L. (Walt) Friedhofen was born March 22, 1948 in Springfield, MO. to Walter R. and Dieudonne (Lejear) Friedhofen, a WWII Belgian war bride. He departed this life on April 9, 2016. Growing up in a home that was bilingual in both English and French would play an important role in his life.

He graduated from Parkview high school in 1966, attended Southwest Missouri State College (now MSU) for three years prior to entering the U.S. Air Force and received his BA in criminal psychology from the U. of Louisville, KY in 1984.

Walter (Wally) Friedhofen was a proud career military member. Walt joined the Air Force as a Vietnam volunteer, and following training served back-to-back tours flying combat fighter missions with Forward Air Controllers as an airborne airstrike interpreter during President Nixon's Top-Secret War in Cambodia in 1970-1972. He was one of the original members of the Rustic organization and one of the best. While in Vietnam, Walt garnered the Air Force Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palms, 14 Air Medals, and the Air Force Commendation medal. He was a very dedicated and professional Air Force Non Commissioned Officer who would do anything for a friend or fellow service member. Walt spent 26 years in the Air Force and retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1993 as Superintendent of the Security Police Squadron at Whiteman AFB, MO.

Walt was a 32nd degree master mason and Past Master of Soloman Lodge #271 in Springfield; a Knight Commander in the Court of Honor (KCCH) in the Scottish Rite Valley of Joplin, MO where he worked in several degrees; and a member of Abou Ben Adhem Shrine in Springfield where he was Past Commander of the Shrine Legion of Honor. He was also the past president of Springfield Downtown Kiwanis and a founding member of the Springfield Parenting Life Skills Center. He was appointed by then Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan to serve six years as a Missouri State Commissioner in Jefferson City, MO on the Missouri Community Service Commission plans committee.

He was a lifetime member of St. John's E&R (now UCC) church in Springfield where he was baptized in 1954 and a past Vice President of the church council.

Walt is preceded in death by his parents, Walter R. and Dieudonne (Dany) Friedhofen. Walt is survived by his wife Sharon and her children Tim Smith of Tulsa Ok; Kathy Mann and her husband Josh and their children Grayson and Parker of Clinton, MO; Sarah Schrader and her husband Earl and their children Lincoln and Liam of Nixa Mo; and his son Randy Friedhofen of Oklahoma; his Brother-in-law Steve Call and his children Clifton Call of Tulsa, OK; Jennifer Call and Steven Wade Call of Springfield, Mo; Cousin Marty Stockstill of Springfield; Cousin-cum-sister, Carol Jean Rodgers of Nixa, Mo; and many family members in Belgium.

Visitation will be Wednesday April 13, 2016 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield, MO. Funeral services will be held Thursday April 14, 2016 at 11:00 am at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, followed by interment in Maple Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to American Cancer Society.