PVT Walter Samuel Arey

courtesy of Paul Davis Fair

PVT Walter Samuel Arey was born 29 Dec 1886 in Hinton, Virginia. He was the only child of George Washington "Pet" and Malinda Jane (Ray) Arey. Malinda was George's second wife and the family farmed near Ottobine, Virginia. Walter married Katie Francis Tasker in December 1905 and the couple had a son, Golden Lee Arey, in 1907. Walter also supported his family by working in the timber industry.

The couple may have already divorced when Walter enlisted in D Company 2nd Virginia Infantry on 20 Apr 1917 in anticipation of the federalization of this Virginia National Guard unit. Katie was remarried in June 1917. Walter served in the unit as a cook and went with the unit to Camp McClellan, Alabama. He died there of disease on 6 Jan 1918.

PVT Arey was brought home very quickly and interred in the Mount Clinton Mennonite Church Cemetery in Mount Clinton, Virginia. 

After Walter's death, Golden went to live with his paternal grandparents.