Chaplain J Walter Poorman

Chaplain J Walter Poorman, 90, of Biloxi, passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2014.
J Walter is predeceased by his parents, Reverend J Walter Poorman, Sr., and Georgia Spring Poorman; his first wife of 49 years, Lois Meire Poorman, and nephew Jerry Guthridge.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Phyllis Harper Poorman; his daughter, Shelly (David) Gibbs Roberts; step-daughter, Sharon (Andy) Kennedy; sister, Elizabeth (Richard) Guthridge; grandchildren, John Adam (Elizabeth) Gibbs, Timothy Gibbs, and Janyce Gibbs Layman, and two step-children, Athena Roberts (Michael) Eveland and Zachery (Amanda) Roberts. He also has seven great-grandchildren; nephews David (Janice) and Stephen Hottle; John (Beep) Guthridge; nieces Mary Beth Guthridge and Sharon (Richard) Chandler, and two ""honor"" grandchildren, Cree and Stevie Cantrell. He was proud of all of his children!
He was born in Hebbardville, KY, on 4 June 1923. A few years later, his parents, along with he and his little sister, moved to Ohio. He grew up in Piqua, Ohio. He graduated from St. Parish High School in Piqua, Ohio, May 1941. His intentions were to go to Denison College to get his degree in Theology. His studies were interrupted by WWII and he joined the Army Air Corps, serving in the India-Burma Theater and with a Combat Cargo Unit.
J Walter joined the Army Air Corps on 2 March 1942. He was sent to Coleman, TX, on his first assignment. He entered pilot training but, after 23 hours of solo flying, he was washed out because his depth perception was off. He was transferred to Radio School and became a radioman in a B-24 Bomb Wing. He also trained as a belly gunner on the B-24. He entered the Army Air Corps as a Private and was discharged on 6 May 1945 as a Technical Sergeant. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal three times for flying in hazardous territory.
After leaving the Army, he finished his Masters of Divinity at the Southern Baptist Theology Seminary in Louisville KY, and was a student pastor while there. Later he went to Bowman-Gray School of Medicine for the Clinical Pastoral Education Program and returned to the Air Force in 1952 as a Chaplain, 2nd Lt.
J Walter had many assignments for the Air Force. He went to several overseas assignments such as Japan, Spain, Germany and Iwo Jima. His stateside assignments were many. He seemed to get mostly Southern states such as South Dakota, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Texas and finally Mississippi.
He came to Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, MS in 1977 and was assigned to the Medical Center as Chaplain. A year later he was given his last assignment, it being Keesler AF Base Chaplain where he remained until his retirement in 1981. His military service ended when he was a Lt. Col, and lasted a little over 30 years.
The Pineville Presbyterian Church in Pass Christian, MS, was in need of a full time minister and had heard about an Air Force Chaplain that was retiring and planning to stay in the area. A group from that church went to Keesler to hear him one Sunday morning. They were impressed, offered him the job, he accepted, and went to work for them after his retirement from the Air Force. Again, J Walter remained at Pineville Presbyterian Church for another 30 years, retiring in October 2011. However, he did promise to go back for the 2011 Christmas Eve Candle Lite Service. They had the largest attendance for Christmas Eve that the church had ever had.
J Walter had a beautiful singing voice. He was always being asked to sing someone's favorite hymn at church. Even at age 90 years old, he could still sing, on key, and bring tears to folk's eyes.
In April 2012, Chaplain Poorman was amongst those Veterans that were selected to go on one of the Honor Flights to Washington, DC. That was one of his proudest moments of being a veteran of WWII and the Korean War, and able to live in a somewhat peaceful time.
After more than 60 years as a Chaplain for our Lord and Country, he has now gone to help in a Heavenly location. He will be missed by many.
A large ""thank you"" for the care he was given at Greenbriar Nursing Facility and Gentiva Hospice for their daily care. He was loved by all.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Pineville Presbyterian Church, 4476 Menge Avenue, Pass Christian, MS 39571 or a charity of your choice.
Visitation will be at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 274 Beauvoir Road, Biloxi, MS from 12:30 p.m. until service time at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, January 17, 2014, followed by burial at the Biloxi National Cemetery, Biloxi, MS.