Walter P. Finch, 90 of Aledo, IL, passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at Charter Memory Care in Moline, IL. A memorial visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m., Thursday, January 2, 2025, at Nichols Bewley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Aledo. Private interment will be at Aledo Cemetery. Please share your memories, support, and love with Walt’s family on his Memorial Tribute site at www.NicholsBewley.com.
Walt was born to Water M. and Ola D. Bigham Finch on March 26, 1934, in Aledo. He was raised and educated in Rock Island and Keithsburg, IL, graduating from Keithsburg High School in 1952. Walt married Judith K. Krause on September 1, 1956, in Clinton, IA. She preceded him in death June 5, 2014.
Walt was a non-combat veteran of the Korean Conflict Era serving with the US Army and later the Reserves. He attended the University of Illinois School of Architecture in Champaign, IL, eventually securing architectural licensure in both Illinois and Iowa. He was employed as a draftsman for architectural and engineering firms in Champaign, Moline, and Kankakee, IL, as well as Davenport, IA, before joining the design-build firm of Dean Frye and Associates in Aledo where he designed the classic “Small Frye,” an entry-level ranch style home that can be found throughout nearly every neighborhood in Aledo. In 1970, he went into private practice opening his own full-service architectural firm in Aledo, eventually adding a branch office in Macomb, IL. Walt derived great fulfillment from his profession, designing a wide variety of structures from banks, shopping centers, and churches to educational, medical, and governmental buildings as well as recreational and agricultural structures and his greatest passion…residential design and remodeling.
He was a member of the American Institute of Architects and The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. He served as a past president of the Aledo chapter of the Exchange Club and volunteered with Aledo Main Street, Inc. He was a member and former deacon of the Aledo First Baptist Church.
Preceding him in death was his wife, Judy; his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Jim Walker; and brother-in-law, Richard Stearns. Those left to honor his memory are his children, Scott (Mindy) Finch of Sherrard, IL, Lynn Finch of Aledo, and Laurie (Mike) Wood of Aledo; his sister, Sandra (Dave) King of Orion, IL; his grandchildren, Brandon (Veronica) Finch of Chicago, IL, Beth (Kevin) Reschke of Apex, NC, Tyler (Amber) Wood of Aledo, Colton Wood of Los Angeles, CA, and Spencer (Dina Falk) Wood of Fort Collins, CO; six great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren with one lovingly expected; three step-great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and one nephew.
Walt loved to spend time with his family in the little community where he’d built his career and raised his family. He was particularly proud of the opportunity he had to donate his time and architectural services to the creation of the Central Park Bandshell where he enjoyed watching community members gather in wholesome fellowship and shared civic pride for the little town that he called home. It is in that spirit that his family requests that all memorials be directed to the Aledo City Hall for ongoing programming, maintenance, and improvement of that facility.
Walt’s family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the dedicated caregivers of Charter Memory Care, Genesis Hospice, and Compassus Hospice whose love, kindness, and creativity allowed him to continue to experience moments of joy and fellowship amidst the debilitating isolation of advanced dementia.