Walter Harwell, Jr

WALTER H. HARWELL, JR. Walter H. Harwell, Jr., 85, of Port Orange, died Friday, March 6 at Port Orange Hospice. A memorial service was held Saturday, March 21st at First United Methodist Church of Port Orange. A graveside service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10, at Tupelo Memorial Park on Joyner Ave., Tupelo. Mr. (Gus) Harwell was born on January 21, 1930 in Okolona, MS. He graduated from Tupelo High School in 1947 and graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 1951. He served 3 years in the Navy as ensign and lieutenant aboard aircraft carriers as radio communication and public information officer, 1951-1954. He married Mary Ann Johnston in 1951. Mr. Harwell enjoyed a distinguished career in journalism, including: The Aberdeen (MS) Examiner as reporter/photographer, managing editor, 1954-1960; Starkville, (MS) Daily News as advertising manager, 1960-1962; Florida Keys Keynoter (Marathon, FL) as advertising manager, publisher, 1962-1967; North Dade Journal (North Miami, FL) as editor and publisher, 1967-1968; Boca Raton (FL) News, as publisher, 1968-1973; Tallahassee (FL) Democrat as general manager, publisher, 1973-1981; Newspaper Division, Knight Ridder, Inc., Miami, corporate staff as vice president, senior vice president/operations, responsible for business operations of a varying nationwide group of from 13 to 18 daily newspapers, 1981 until retirement on Feb. 1, 1995. After his retirement, he and his wife, Mary Ann, moved to Port Orange. After retiring, Mr. Harwell taught media management and editing as a visiting professional at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He was a member of the board and former president of the Missouri Publishing Assn. responsible for the Columbia Missourian, a newspaper produced by the School of Journalism. Mr. Harwell served as United Way Chairman and President while living in Tallahassee. He served as president of the Florida Press Association in 1981. More recently, he served as a trustee of Family Renew Community, a charitable organization helping homeless families achieve independence in Daytona Beach. He was a member of Covenant United Methodist Church until 2011, where he served as finance committee chairman and building committee chairman. He was currently a member of First United Methodist Church of Port Orange. Mr. Harwell was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann, in 2014 and his son Walter H. Harwell, III in 1974. He is survived by his daughter, Suzanne (Tom) Walters of Port Orange; three grandchildren, Loren (Jason) Joiner of Crawfordville, FL., Nicole (Joe) Poznanski of Las Vegas, NV and David Walters (Tiffany) of Bruchmuhlbach-Miesau, Germany, and great-grandchildren Sara, Jake, Shelby, Justin, Matthew and Tristan Joiner and Inara Rose Poznanski. He is also survived by a niece, Ginger Kitchens Brown, of Cordova, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to The Florida United Methodist Children's Home, 51 Children's Way, Enterprise, FL 32725.