Walter W. Speakman, Sr., age 92, of Smyrna, DE, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday Sept. 17, 2011. He was surrounded by family and his friend and caregiver, George Gibson. "Buzz" was born April 17, 1919 to the late Cummins E. and Marjorie W. Speakman of Belmont Hall, Smyrna. In 1938 Buzz graduated from St. Andrews School in Middletown, DE and attended the University of Virginia for 3 years until enlisting in the United States Army Air Corps in 1941. He served as a "Flying Sergeant" Liaison pilot flying L-5's in the European Theater of Operation until 1946. After the war he served as 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1953. Returning to college, Buzz graduated from the University of Virginia in 1947 with a degree in Commerce and Accounting. He worked at Bird Speakman, Inc. in Wilmington, becoming President in 1961. He later worked for the State of Delaware, retiring in 1987 from the State Budget Office as a Senior Budget Analyst. Buzz loved his family and friends, the outdoors, duck hunting, and animals, especially his many yellow Labrador retrievers. He enjoyed reading, history, people, football, and telling good jokes and stories about his life. He was a member of many organizations including the University of Virginia Alumni Association Jefferson Club, the Liaison Pilots Association, the Duck Creek Historical Society, and the Friends of Belmont Hall. Buzz served on the St. Andrews Alumni Board and on the Vestry of St. Peter's Episcopal Church for 4 terms. He was preceded in death by his son, Walter W. Speakman, Jr.; his brother, Cummins E. Speakman, Jr.; and his sister, Marion Holder Mathews. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Virginia W. Speakman; his daughters, Amy E. Speakman, of Aspen, Colorado and Marjorie (Missy) and her husband James T. Vaughn, Jr., of Smyrna; his daughter-in-law, Karen B. Speakman, of Dover; grandchildren, Mary V. Moor and her husband, Alex; James T. Vaughn, III and his fiancée, Elizabeth Wong; Calli F. Speakman, and Walter W. Speakman, III; and many beloved nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held 1:00 PM Saturday October 1 at Belmont Hall, 512 S. DuPont Highway, Smyrna. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 22 N. Union St., Smyrna, DE 19977; to Vitas Hospice, 100 Commerce Dr., Suite 302, Newark, DE 19713; to St. Andrews School, 350 Noxontown Rd., Middletown, DE 19709, or to the Friends of Belmont Hall, P.O. Box 148, Smyrna, DE 19977. To send a condolence letter, visit www.matthewsbryson.com. Arrangements are by Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.