George Walter Titus – Major General, United States Army

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Prominent World War II veteran dies
Titus served two tours of duty in Europe, led state's military reserve
By Sophia Kazmi
COURTESY OF THE CONTRA COSTA TIMES
15 June 2007

Retired Army Major General G. Walter Titus, a prominent World War II veteran who was active in military and local affairs, died Tuesday. He was 81.

Titus served in Europe in 1944 and 1945. He was the only World War II veteran who was a member of the Viet Nam Veterans of the Diablo Valley, a group active in establishing the All Wars Memorial in Danville's Oak Hill Park.

“He was the kindest, gentlest, most humble man I ever met,” said his wife, Lucie Titus. “He was very knowledgeable.”

The two met in 1983 as members of the California State Military Reserve. They married in 1989.

Titus joined the military in 1944 and earned a Bronze Star for his service in Europe.

After he was honorably discharged, he attended Oregon State University, where he was a member of the ROTC, and spent summers training with an artillery battalion in Washington state. After graduation, he was recalled into active duty and soon was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. He was sent to Baumholder, Germany, as a Battery Commander.

After returning from that second tour of duty in Europe, he joined the National Guard in Richmond. He moved up the ranks in the reserve forces, retiring in 1981 as the commander of troop command at the California Military Academy.

Later, as a member of the California State Military Reserve, he was promoted by the governor to Major General and was given command of the entire state's military reserve, Lucie Titus said.

After his retirement from 37 years in military service, he stayed active in local military affairs and was a member of several military associations.

He was a lifetime member of the Association of the United States Army, a member of the Reserve Officers Association and the U.S. Naval Institute and a past board member of the State Defense Force Association.

Among his major awards were the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Order of California.

In 1994, he became a board member of the Blackhawk Homeowners Association and later became a volunteer for its architecture committee.

Titus was known for his sense of humor during meetings, said Mark Goldberg, the association's community manager.

“He had a way of helping us not take ourselves so seriously,” Goldberg said, adding that the association lost a dedicated volunteer.

“He was a gentleman,” Goldberg said. “He was somebody I would like to model myself after.”

In his civilian life, Titus was a metallurgical engineer. He worked for U.S. Steel in Pittsburg, Aerojet General Nucleonics in San Ramon and General Electric at its plants in Vallecitos and San Jose.

Lucie Titus said besides the military, her husband loved trains, rose gardening and travel.

“We traveled all over the world,” she said.

EPITAPH

G. WALTER TITUS
Born: September 29, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York
Died: June 12, 2007, in Martinez, California
Hometown: Blackhawk

Survivors: Wife Lucie Titus, son Matthew Titus of Fremont and daughter Chris Marx of American Canyon.

Memorial services: 10 a.m. July 1 at the base chapel at Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area in Dublin. His ashes will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors, Association of the United States Army, 305 Sequoia Terrace, Danville, California 94506-4545.

TITUS, GEORGE W

  • MG   US ARMY
  • WORLD WAR II, KOREA
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 09/29/1925
  • DATE OF DEATH: 06/12/2007
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 60  SITE 6129
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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