Walter E. Hesson1926-2016Walter Edward Hesson (90) of Houston, TX passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2016. He was born on May 24, 1926 to Walter Sylvester Hesson and Ina (Ritchel) Hesson in Rockport, IN. He graduated early from Rockport High School and attended Purdue University to study Engineering before enlisting in the US Navy at the height of WWII. After discharge, he returned to school and graduated from the University of Evansville with a degree in Industrial Management. Walt was a dedicated Brownbuilder spending 34 years of his career with Houston based Brown & Root. He processed through the ranks, impacting projects and influencing coworkers on the gulf coast and around the world before retiring as Sr. Vice President in 1986.Walt's second career that he moonlighted at was that of a distance runner. He was an early member of the Houston Harriers and Houston Masters running clubs and throughout his 50's and 60's often posted club best times for his age group in various long distance races. For a number of years, he was a member of the Houston Marathon Course Committee responsible for the Design and Certification of the race course during the formative years of the event. Walt competed in 11 Marathons including the venerated Boston MarathonFollowing his retirement from Brown &Root, Walt undertook the endeavor of teaching himself botany, in particular the life cycle and identification of ferns. He was an enthusiastic member of the Texas Gulf Coast Fern Society, Houston Audubon Society, and the Texas Native Plant Society. Along with his beloved wife of over 56 years, he traveled across this beautiful country of ours to hike, camp, and photograph the flora of locations ranging from the National Parks to overgrown cemeteries. Walt was a member for 50 years of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church.Walt is survived by his wife Carolyn Renee, sons Paul Walter and Scott Edward, daughter in law Karen Jones, granddaughter Althea Love and nephew Bill and his family. He was preceded in death by his sister Marguerite and brother Sylvester.A memorial service will be held in early 2017. Memorial contributions may be made in Walt's honor to the Houston Area Parkinson Society ( http://www.hapsonline.org/).