Walter Brinton Lecompte

Walter Brinton LeCompte passed away peacefully on July 9, 2020 as he approached his 101st birthday. A native of Delaware, Brit had been a resident of Lynchburg since 2003. Brit was born July 31, 1919 in Philadelphia, Pa. to Anna May Deitrich and John L. LeCompte. He married Gladys W. Hill in 1954. Brit was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Gladys W. Hill LeCompte and his brother L. Leslie LeCompte. He is survived by his sister Lois Finley (Ted) of Dover, Del., his nieces Julie O’Connor (Tim) of Wyoming, Del., and Gwendolyn Mulcahy (Joey) of Baltimore, Md., Kathy Heisler of Jacksonville, Fla., his nephews John LeCompte II (Florene) of Dover, Del., John Randolph Allison (Callie) of Ocala, Fla., Dr. Robert W. Allison (Katrina) of Whakatane, New Zealand, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Brit graduated from Caesar Rodney High School in Camden, Del. After high school, Brit attended H.F. Brown Vocational School of Wilmington, Del. for two years to study electrical engineering.

Brit considered it a privilege to serve his country in World War II in both the European and the Pacific Theaters in the US Army. He was called to duty March 21, 1941 and was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant on December 12, 1945. His military career primarily took place in Iceland in the Signal Corps/Radio Intelligence Company as a communications expert. Brit’s job with the 1685th Engineer Combat Battalion was to gather radio information from the enemy and pass it on to the decipherers/cryptographers.

Brit was an accomplished businessman who started work early. As a teenager, Brit was repairing radios and phonographs. He was employed by Gewehr Piano Company in sales and sold Steinway pianos up and down the East Coast. After the war, he owned the Brandywine Rug Company and several other businesses including selling carpets, cleaning/decorating services, electronics, phonographs and radios.

When Brit retired, he chose Lynchburg as his home after much deliberation. Moving to Lynchburg relatively late in life, Brit became a noteworthy philanthropist to his church, four educational institutions, and local music organizations. Brit believed strongly in family and community and found Lynchburg to be a place where people care for one another.

Brit’s passions included education, arts, music, and gardening. He and Gladys understood the value of investing in education to support our world’s future. Through his estate he established endowed scholarships with a priority to support women students at North Carolina State University, the University of Lynchburg (formerly Lynchburg College), Randolph College (formerly Randolph-Macon Woman’s College), and Virginia Episcopal School.

Brit’s family expresses a special word of appreciation to his friends, caregivers both private and through Generation Solutions and Gentle Shepherd Hospice.

Brit will be interred at a later date at Green Hill Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Del. where he will rest with his wife Gladys. A virtual memorial service will be held in Lynchburg at Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church on October 1, 2021 at 10:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1510 Fort Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24502; First Presbyterian Church, 1215 VES Rd., Lynchburg, VA 24503; LeCompte Endowed Scholarship Fund at University of Lynchburg, 1501 Lakeside Dr., Lynchburg, VA 24501, Randolph College, 2500 Rivermont Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24503, or Virginia Episcopal School, 400 VES Rd., Lynchburg, VA 24503; or a charity of your choice.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.