Mr. Walter A. Dahl

Walter A. Dahl, a longtime resident of Seneca, died peacefully at home on December 19. He was 87 years old. Walter was a sportsman and a world traveler who enjoyed the friendships of many people, in all walks of life, and across decades of adventures. He ran with the bulls in Pamplona in 1954, earned a pilot’s license in 1997 and survived a boar attack on a hunting expedition in 2008. He was a veteran and a successful businessman. He had a wonderful sense of humor. Above all, he was a caring husband to his wife, Danielle, and a loving father to his children, Andrea, Steven, and Mark. He was a devoted grandfather to seven grandchildren. In recent years, they shared many happy vacations boating on Lake Keowee. Walter was born in Paynesville, Ohio, on January 7, 1937. He grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, before enlisting in the Air Force after high school. He was stationed in Spain and quickly became fluent in Spanish. He played baseball for his Air Force team, the Toros, and attended the University of Madrid. He later graduated from the University of Illinois (continuing his baseball career there) and eventually earned a master’s degree in business from the University of Chicago, as well as other degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University. Walter worked in the railroad industry for many years, in a variety of sales managerial positions, including President of Westcode, a subsidiary of Westinghouse based in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He was President and owner of U.S. Converting, of Schaumberg, Illinois, before retiring to Seneca in 1997. Both his wife, Danielle, and son, Steven, were active in the business. Walter was a connoisseur of wine and a skilled chef. He loved preparing dishes ranging from recipes grounded in his Norwegian heritage as well as the many countries he visited in his vast travels. He reveled in his time spent preparing meals with his family and teaching his children how to cook. Walter was an avid golfer, and an accomplished one, with four hole-in-ones. He held memberships at Cross Creek Plantation Country Club and The Cliffs here in South Carolina. He formerly was a member of Medinah Country Club in Illinois, and the Union League Club of Chicago. Walter is survived by his wife, Danielle; his daughter, Andrea, of Vienna, Virginia, her husband Mike and their children Cassie and William; his son, Steven, of Indialantic, Florida, and his children Andrew, Christian and Matthew; and his son, Mark, of Kensington, Maryland, his wife, Shara, and their children Lucy and Kelsey. Walter will be sorely missed and lovingly remembered.

Mr. Walter A. Dahl

January 7, 1937 - December 20, 2024