Walter Jack Randolph

Walter Jack Randolph

97 years of age, departed peacefully from his residence in Land O Lakes, Florida on February 3rd, 2024, to be with the Lord and that of his late wife. He leaves behind his sister Barbara A. Gallant, children Michael (Susan), Martin (Sandy), Michelle (Henry) and Kurt (Debbie) along with 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
The youngest of three children born to Charles and Mildred Randolph Nov 24, 1926, in Rochester, NY. His mother called him her “little buddy” giving rise to the nickname “Bud” as he was came bo be known to his immediate family and close personal friends, along with “Uncle Bud”, “Pop-Pop”, “Pops” and “Great-Pops” to his extended family members. His (late) wife of 59 years, Shirley Alice Scott, whom had he met during high school, affectionately called him “Wally”.
In his early years during the Great Depression, he recalled collecting coal fallen off open railroad cars along the tracks to help heat their home. When WWII came, he enlisted when he came of age, volunteering for the Navy’s V-12 program but ultimately serving aboard an LST (jokingly referred to as “Long Slow Targets”) just as the war was ending. The GI Bill allowed him to earn his BS in Electrical Engineering at the University of Rochester in 1948; his first job was with Western Electric winding transformer coils. Soon thereafter, he took an engineering position with MEPCO of North American Philips (NAP) in NJ, where he also served with the Long Valley Volunteer Fire Dept, later moving to Bedminster as the family grew. During that time, Walter collaborated with two of his colleagues to conceive, develop and patent what came to be known as their “thin carbon film, precision, glass sealed resistor”. With the Cold War heating up in the 60’s, this was just what NASA needed for the space-vehicle electronics of their lunar landing program; Walter was always justifiably proud of that and the letter from the President of United States acknowledging this key contribution to the country’s space program. In total, Walter was awarded four US patents during his career. Along the way, he became a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Leadership Training for Managers program, helping him climb MEPCO’s management ranks to Engineering VP in 1962. His goal to be the “Captain of his Own Ship” was achieved in 1969 when he was named President of Industrial Circuits Company, a position he held until ICC merged with other NAP divisions. He then moved on to become President of National Tel-Tronics Inc. in Meadville, PA. Upon its acquisition by the Delany Capital Management Corp he became NTT’s CEO and joined DCM’s Board of Directors in 1986. It was during this period that Walter and Shirley were born again in Christ and continued growing in their faith through retirement to Pinehurst NC in 1996 where they joined the Yates-Thagard Baptist Church where Walter taught Bible school. He remained in Pinehurst until Shirley’s passing in 2006, moving to Land O Lakes, FL to be near family there.
Throughout their lives together, Walter and Shirley were avid Bridge players and golfed together during their Pinehurst retirement, but their greatest enjoyment was dancing, especially to live band music; together they could really “cut a rug”. Their children recall how they always made a point of going out for Saturday night dinner and dancing, often with their long-time Bedminster neighborhood friends, the Noe’s, Gradone’s, Helwigg’s and Runyon’s.
Walter’s Funeral Service with family members and friends will be held Monday (June 24th) 1:00 PM in the All Seasons Chapel in White Haven Memorial Park, Pittsford, NY. Please meet and line up inside the cemetery Gate at 1:00 PM, where his remains will be laid to rest next to his wife Shirley. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, please make a memorial gift to the University of Rochester by visiting giving.rochester.edu or by mail to P.O. Box 270032, Rochester NY 14627-0032.