Walter O'Brien Obituary

Walter James O'Brien, 91, passed away on Jan. 8, 2026. He was born on Dec. 24, 1934, in Santa Rita, NM, to Edward "Ted" O'Brien and Louise Sherman. Walter earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from New Mexico State University, where he met the love of his life, Geraldine Shipley. They were married Jan. 27, 1958 in Las Cruces, NM. Walter served in the U.S. Air Force as a meteorologist, stationed in Los Angeles, CA and Orlando, FL during the late 1950's.

Walter and Gerry raised four children and moved to Lawrence where Walt completed his doctorate in civil engineering. He joined the faculty at the University of Kansas in 1965 until 1975. During the late 1960's, the O'Brien's spent a year living in Puerto Rico while Walter was on sabbatical from KU. He loved watching KU basketball games.

Walter then joined Black & Veatch, first in Dallas, TX and then in Overland Park, KS. He worked on many projects including ones in Vietnam, Thailand and Australia. His focus on sustainable water treatment processes improved many communities. In retirement, Walt and Gerry settled in Buda, TX.

Walter was preceded in death by his wife, Gerry; his brother, John O'Brien; his son, Michael O'Brien; his grandson, Dale O'Brien; his brother-in-law Gerald Shipley Jr. and his sister-in-law Marie McLaney.

He is survived by three children and seven grandchildren: Edward O'Brien and his wife, Sandy (of Lawrence, KS), and their children, Stephanie, Lindsey, and Leslie; Gloria O'Brien and her husband, Art Lee (of Burnt Woods, OR), and their children, Holly Lebre (husband Ron Cogburn) and Ash Lebre (wife Shanan Lebre); and Katherine O'Brien and her husband, Jeff Robinson (of Buda, TX), and their children, Dorothea and Matilda Robinson (fiancé Cameron Denton). He is also survived by his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Fran O'Brien, Sarah and Bob Omer, Joe and Coral Shipley, and Reggie McLaney, and many nieces and nephews.

Walter's remains will be placed in the columbarium at John Paul II Catholic Church in Pagosa Springs, CO. He was loved and will be dearly missed.