Walter Charlton Hartridge, II

Walter Charlton Hartridge ll, age 80, died Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014 while under the care of Hospice Savannah.  Walter was born in Savannah to Julian Hartridge and Emma Hopkins Hartridge. He attended the Benedictine Military School and the University of Virginia.  He was given the rare honor to live on the lawn as a junior. He graduated with Distinction and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the Raven Society.  Walter joined the Army as an artillery officer, rising to the rank of Captain. After being stationed in Germany, he attended the University of Munich. Following his service he attended the Harvard University School of Law. After receiving his degree, he returned to Savannah in 1961 and joined the firm of Bouhan, Williams, and Levy where he practiced for the rest of a distinguished career. He was particularly interested in corporate and maritime law, and was recognized in “Best Lawyers in America”, and was labeled “Top Attorney in Business Litigation” in the Corporate Counsel edition of “Super Lawyers”.  His many offices included: member, Board of Governors, Georgia State Bar; Chair, Southeast Admiralty Law Institute; member Judicial Qualifications Commission State of Georgia; and Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers. He was a friend and mentor to many younger attorneys, and his advice and counsel were highly regarded within the legal fraternity.
Walter’s roots within the South and his community were very deep. He was a seventh generation Savannahian and a sixth generation Savannah lawyer, with a strong sense of heritage and place. He was past President of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia. He was a member of the Hibernian Society, Savannah Benevolent Society, and the Oglethorpe Club, past President and Chairman of the Board of the Historic Savannah Foundation, and a Trustee of the Georgia Conservancy, as well as former Chairman of the Revolutionary Battlepark Committee. Walter had a keen interest in American and European history, and he would happily discuss it with anyone who might ask.  Fluent in German and French, he was appointed Honorary French Consul in Savannah for many years. He was a great outdoorsman, avid sailor, member of the Pluff Mud Duck Club, and in particular stalked the wily trout for many years with, alas, only limited success. Walter enjoyed watching many sports events with his children and grandchildren.
Walter is survived by his wife of fifty years, Cornelia McIntire Hartridge; brother, Julian Hartridge; three children Elizabeth Hartridge Phillips(Lawrence) of Rye, NY; Emma Hartridge Svoboda(Steven) of West Point, NY; Thomas Charlton Hartridge of Savannah; six grandchildren Lawrence, Robert, and  Catherine  Phillips; William, Georgia,  and Caroline Svoboda; sisters-in-law Elizabeth Rogers, of Houston, TX; Lucy  Hitch(William) of Savannah; and brother-in-law James  William McIntire(Sue) of Bluffton, SC.
A private graveside service will be held at Bonaventure Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at the Independent Presbyterian Church Tuesday, April 29 at 2:00 PM. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Hibernian Society of Savannah. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations, be made to Hospice Savannah, Inc. at PO Box 13190, Savannah GA 31416, or Independent Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 9266, Savannah, GA 31416.

Bradley B. Anderson Funeral and Low Country Cremation Services is serving the Hartridge family.