NOVEMBER 30TH, 1931 – AUGUST 8TH, 2026
In the Care of Laird Funeral Home
Walter Robert Nerren went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on August 8, 2026 at the age of 94. Walter was born in Palestine, Texas November 30th, 1931 to Olin Ray and Ada Naomi Nerren. He spent most of his life in Nacogdoches where he and his wife, Ann, raised their five sons.
Walter had remarkable technical abilities and learned multiple skills from an early age. He excelled in many fields and would say that he was capable as any man and if someone could do it, he could do it too! Some of his talents included woodworking, A/C and refrigeration, metal fabrication, machining, and electronics. He was owner of Nerren TV Sales and Service for 10 years. Afterwards, he was a dedicated employee for 30 years at Spradley Signs and Cooper Industries, both located in Nacogdoches.
He loved adventure and would never turn down an opportunity for an adrenaline rush! Walter loved aviation and dreamed of being a pilot. In his teens he began flying lessons in his favorite aircraft…a Piper Cub. After being diagnosed with epilepsy, he was unable to earn his pilot’s license. This didn’t stop his dream so he went on to build ultralight aircraft prototypes and remote control aircraft well into his 70’s. As a young man, he was once offered $75 to replace a beacon light on top of a local radio tower. He agreed and set out for the climb with the bulb stuffed in his coat. It was winter, cold and drizzly that day. Without any safety harness he climbed several hundred feet to complete the job and then sat to watch the trains coming into town. His favorite and most challenging sport was motorcycle enduro racing. He earned many awards in the highly revered AMA National Enduro events held in Texas and Louisiana until he retired from the sport in 1975. He also built and raced boats and karts for a time.
He was honest, hard working, and liked by everyone who knew him. He was a devout Christian, loved to share his faith with anyone who would listen, and loved to read his Bible. The world truly lost a wonderful man who will be greatly missed. He is now in Heaven dancing with Jesus!
Walter is survived by his wife of 70 years, Ann, from Nacogdoches, Texas, sons Mark, Randy (Leigh) from Lindale, Texas, Brett and Ryan from Nacogdoches, Texas and Shawn (Shannon) from Nacogdoches, Texas. He is also survived by an older sister, Geneta Farmer, from Canyon Lake, California.
A very special thanks to the nurses and staff of Heart to Heart Hospice of Nacogdoches for their kindness and compassion to our family.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Walter Robert Nerren, please visit Laird Funeral Home’s floral store.