Walter Elmer Handy b. 27 Sep 1941 Shawnee, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, USA d. 13 Mar 1968 Pleiku, Vietnam: Smith Family Tree

Walter Elmer Handy

1941 - 1968 (26 years)

Name	Walter Elmer Handy [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Birth	27 Sep 1941	Shawnee, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, USA [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Gender	Male
Census	1950	Vian, Sequoyah, Oklahoma, USA [4]
	Relation to Head: Son; Marital Status: Never Married
Military Award	Bronze Star and Purple Heart [3]
		Military Medal-Bronze Star The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest individual military award and the ninth-highest by order of precedence in the US Military. It may be awarded for acts of heroism, acts of merit, or meritorious service in a combat zone. When awarded for acts of heroism, the medal is awarded with the "V" device. …
		Military Medal-Purple Heart The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed, while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given…
Military Service	1968	Vietnam [1]
	US Army - Vietnam: PFC; 585 Engineer Company
		Military Insignia-US Army 585 Engineer Company 585 Engineer Company Insignia
Obituary	Mar 1968	Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, USA [5, 6]
	Walter E Handy Killed in Action • Casper Star-Tribune • Casper, Wyoming • 22 Mar 1968, Fri • Page 1
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
Death	13 Mar 1968	Pleiku, Vietnam [1, 2, 3, 5]
	Cause: Killed in Action - Vietnam War
	Died in the American Army
Burial	Highland Cemetery, Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, USA [3]
	Walter Handy "Wyoming PFC 585 Engineer Co Vietnam - BSM PH"
		Burial-HANDY Walter Walter Handy "Wyoming PFC 585 Engineer Co Vietnam - BSM PH" - Highland Cemetery, Casper WY ~ Kiled in action in Pleiku, Vietnam + https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132478393/ walter
		Highland Cemetery (also known as Casper Cemetery) Casper, Natrona, Wyoming Find a Grave: #84045
Person ID	I26995	A Tree Called Smith
Last Modified	21 Jul 2025

Father	Roy Elmer Handy, b. 16 May 1911, Oregon County, Missouri, USA d. 20 Jan 1987, Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, USA (Age 75 years)
Relationship	natural
Mother	Muriel Lee Votaw, b. 5 Dec 1918, Farris, Atoka, Oklahoma, USA d. 26 Jun 2010, Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, USA (Age 91 years)
Relationship	natural
Marriage	16 Nov 1940	Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, USA [7]
Family ID	F9533	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family 1	Myrnalu Walport Robinson, b. 23 Aug 1937, Glenrock, Converse, Wyoming, USA d. 21 Oct 1966, Natrona County Memorial Hospital, Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, USA (Age 29 years)
Marriage	18 Sep 1957	Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA [8]
Family ID	F11924	Group Sheet \| Family Chart
Last Modified	21 Jul 2025

Family 2	Living
Family ID	F11923	Group Sheet \| Family Chart
Last Modified	21 Jul 2025

Event Map

	Birth - 27 Sep 1941 - Shawnee, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, USA
	Census - Relation to Head: Son; Marital Status: Never Married - 1950 - Vian, Sequoyah, Oklahoma, USA
	Marriage - 18 Sep 1957 - Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
	Obituary - Walter E Handy Killed in Action • Casper Star-Tribune • Casper, Wyoming • 22 Mar 1968, Fri • Page 1 - Mar 1968 - Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, USA
	Burial - - Highland Cemetery, Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, USA

= Link to Google Earth

Arms Icons & Insignia » Slide Show		Military Grave Marker - Vietnam War Killed in Action: American Service in the Vietnam War
		Military Insignia-US Army 585 Engineer Company 585 Engineer Company Insignia
		Military Insignia-USA PFC PFC - Army Private First class
		Military Medal-Bronze Star The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest individual military award and the ninth-highest by order of precedence in the US Military. It may be awarded for acts of heroism, acts of merit, or meritorious service in a combat zone. When awarded for acts of heroism, the medal is awarded with the "V" device. …
		Military Medal-Purple Heart The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed, while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given…

Burials

Burial-HANDY Walter
Walter Handy "Wyoming PFC 585 Engineer Co Vietnam - BSM PH" - Highland Cemetery, Casper WY ~ Kiled in action in Pleiku, Vietnam + https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132478393/ walter

Military Records

Military-HANDY Walter (Memorial)
Walter Handy's name on the Vietnam Memorial

News At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

People

HANDY-Walter PFC USA
Walter Elmer Handy, PFC, US Army. Killed on 8 July 2014 in combat at Pleiku, Vietnam. (Photo Added by: Kati Swanson, 07/08/2014 -- Find A Grave Memorial# 132478393)

Sources

[S3202] Ancestry.com, U.S., Army Personnel and Dependent Casualties, 1961-1981, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT ; Date: 2005;).
[S1526] Ancestry.com, U.S., Vietnam War Military Casualties, 1956-1998, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT ; Date: 2005;).

[S10491] Find a Grave (Killed in Action - Vietnam War), HANDY Walter Elmer - PFC US Army - 1941-1968 (Veteran) (KILLED IN ACTION).
Birth 27 Sep 1941
Death 13 Mar 1968 (aged 26)
Burial Highland Cemetery, Casper, Natrona County, Wyoming
Plot Block 111, Lot 3, Grave 4

"Wyoming PFC 585 Engineer Co Vietnam - BSM PH"
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132478393/walter-elmer-handy

[S11596] Ancestry.com, 1950 United States Federal Census, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2022;), United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Vian, Sequoyah, Okla.

1950 United States Federal Census
United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Vian, Sequoyah, Okla

[S3203] Newspapers.com: Killed in Action: HANDY Walter PFC,USA • Casper star-Tribune - 22 Mar 1968, (Name: Casper Star-Tribune; Location: Casper WY; Date: 22 Mar 1968;), CASPER SOLDIER KILLED IN VIET.
Pfc. Walter Elmer Handy, 26, of Casper, who was reported missing in action in Vietnam, has now been listed as killed, according to the Defense Department.
Handy was a member of the 585th Engineer Battalion of the 937th Engineer Group, and was killed as a result of hostile fire. He was born Sept 27, 1941, in Seminole OK, and lived for a few years in Shawnee OK. He came to Casper while still a small child and attended schools here. After leaving school he was truck driver for Rlngsby Truck Lines. He married Sharon Day of Casper on Dec 9, 1967.
Survivors Include his wife; three daughters, Melinda, Marlynne, and Kandra; a son, Walter E Jr; his parents, Mr and Mrs Roy B Handy of Casper; brother, John Belcher of Casper; two sisters, Mrs LaKae Hansen, and Kalynn Handy of Casper; maternal grandparents, Mr and Mrs W L Votaw of Shawnee OK. The body is being returned to Casper for services. Bustard Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Casper Star-Tribune • Casper, Wyoming • 22 Mar 1968, Fri • Page 1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/348054323/?article=e7f2d372-fe21-449a-b506-96e05df304a4&focus=0.38024178,0.594252,0.49565995,0.9772253&xid=3355
At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
[S4377] Newspapers.com: Obituary of Walter Handy • Casper Star-Tribune - 22 Mar 1968, (Name: Casper Star-Tribune; Location: Casper WY; Date: 22 Mar 1968;), Walter Elmer Handy -- Casper Star-Tribune; Publication Date: 22 Mar 1968; Publication Place: Casper, Wyoming.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/348054323/?article=e7f2d372-fe21-449a-b506-96e05df304a4&focus=0.38024178,0.594252,0.49565995,0.9772253&xid=3355
At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
[S8482] Find a Grave: VOTAW Muriel Handy 1918-2010, Muriel Lee “Pat” Votaw Belcher Handy.
Birth 5 Dec 1918, Econtuchka Township, Seminole County, Oklahoma
Death 26 Jun 2010 (aged 91), Casper, Natrona County, Wyoming
Burial Natrona Memorial Gardens, Casper, Natrona County, Wyoming
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132495049/muriel_(pat)-lee-handy
[S6480] Find a Grave: ROBINSON Myrnalu Handy 1937-1966, Myrnalu Walport Robinson Handy.
Mrs. Handy, 29, Dies in Casper

Myrnalu Handy, 29, a life-long resident of the Glenrock and Casper areas, died Friday morning at Natrona County Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Handy was born August 23, 1937 in Glenrock. She attended Casper public schools and graduated from Natrona County High School in 1955. She married Elmer Handy in Denver Sept. 18, 1957. Mrs. Handy was an ardent sportswoman, she was active in bowling, drive stock cars and was a memeber of the Casper Car Club. Mrs. Handy was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church.

She is survived by her husband and four children, Malinda Marie, Marlynne Susanne, Walter Elmer Jr., and Kandria Dee all of the family home at 1935 Laramie; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Robinson of Mills; two sisters, Mrs. K. (O. or G.) Ross of Powell and Mrs. Marydee Heidelberg of Hastings, Neb.; and one brother, Willis Robinson of McPherson, Neb.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the Seventh Day Adventist Church with Elder R. B. Wing officiating. Interment will be in the family plot at Highland Cemetery under the direction of Cornett's Hillside Mortuary.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67296665/ha

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Walter Elmer Handy

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