Walter Hatch

Walter “Corky” Hatch of Long Beach, CA was called home to the Lord on March 1, 2022. He was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1945 and spent his early childhood near Portland, Indiana. He moved to San Pedro, CA at age 12 and immediately took to the Pacific Ocean where he began working on both commercial and recreational fishing boats by age 13. He graduated from San Pedro High School in 1963 and later worked for Bethlehem Steel Shipyard before pivoting into careers as a painting contractor, real estate agent, mortgage broker and general contractor. Walter lived most of his life in Long Beach, CA where he and his wife raised their three children. He semi-retired to Panguitch Lake, UT where he became a volunteer firefighter/EMT at the young age of 72. He loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter. If there were fish to be caught, he would often catch the most and the largest. Beer battered calico bass and venison chili were two of his favorite dishes. He was also known for making menudo for Superbowl Sundays and chicken noodle soup whenever anyone was sick. Walter always laughed and made others laugh with a joke, a sarcastic jab, or a story; and he always had a story to share. Walt was preceded in death by his wife Mary Kay Hatch (Stuart) and his hair, which he attributed to “halo chafe”. Walter is survived by his children, Diana (Andrew), Darrell (Julie), and Daniel; six grandchildren (Turkey Lips, Lizard Lips, Chicken Bone, Jake the Snake, Eric the Barbarian, and Roxanna Banana); his sister Nila, his partner Fran, long-time friend Bill W. and many more loving family and friends. Walter will be interned at Green Hills Mortuary in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. A Celebration of Life will be held for Walter on April 9, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the El Dorado Park West Senior Center located at 2800 N Studebaker Rd, Long Beach, CA 90815. Please RSVP to darrellhatch70@gmail.com if you plan to attend.