Walter "Walt" Benjamin Ransom, born on January 31, 1948, in Port Arthur, Texas, departed this life on September 22, 2025, in Groves, Texas. He was a cherished individual, best known for his devoted service in the hotel industry as a front desk agent for many years, where he greeted numerous guests with a warm smile and an inviting demeanor.
Walt was a proud graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, Class of 1966, where he showed great promise as a member of the band and the projector club. His educational journey laid the foundation for a life filled with camaraderie and community engagement. A dedicated member of the United Methodist Temple, Walt lived for several years at the O.W. Collins Senior Apartments on Gulfway Drive in Port Arthur before transitioning to the Oak Grove Nursing Home in 2022, where he was embraced by his loving community.
Walt was known among his friends and family for his infectious sense of humor and an enduring fondness for simple joys, including cookies, ice cream, burgers from Burger King, and Coca-Cola. He was a creature of habit, whose days were brightened by visits from his dear friends Jay and Michelle Kolb and their family. Walt held a special love for their grandsons, frequently inquiring about their baseball games and creating memories that will forever be cherished.
He is survived by his Oak Grove Nursing Home family and his friends, Jay and Michelle Kolb and their family, who will remember him fondly for his kindness, laughter, and spirited personality. He is preceded in death by his loving parents, King Rhodes Ransom, Sr. and Clara Buffkin Foote Rhodes, as well as his sister, Rhoda Faye Ransom.
Walt's heart was steadfast in his devotion to Jesus and to others, qualities that endeared him to everyone fortunate enough to cross his path. His legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew him, and he will be deeply missed.
Visitation for Walt will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Melancon Levingston Funeral Home, 5601 39th St, Groves, TX 77619. Following the visitation, a funeral service will begin at 10:00 AM at the same location.
A special thanks to the staff at Oak Grove Nursing Home, especially Matt, his nurse.