Walter James Doyle

Walter J. Doyle, age 88, of Powell, Ohio died February 24, 2023 at his home surrounded by his caring family. He was born in a New York City hospital in Manhattan on February 5, 1935 and grew up in the Astoria and Woodside section of Queens in New York City.

He competed and earned a spot in The City College of The City University of New York later graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Degree. While there, he pledged and was accepted into the elite Pershing Rifles Military Fraternity where he established many very close and life-long friends. As a result of the fraternity’s focus on exceptionalism in the military, upon graduation, he was designated a Distinguished Military Graduate from ROTC and was offered a Regular Army Commission, which he accepted.

He served three years in the United States Army, as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division, jumping from 39 perfectly good airplanes (this was his preferred method of returning to earth from such flying machines).

Walter went on to attend the Harvard Business School in Boston, MA receiving his MBA Degree in 1964. After graduation, he worked for Industrial Nucleonics Corp. starting as a Sales Engineer in New York City. After a few promotions he became the vice-president and general manager of the Industrial Systems Division headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For most of Walter’s career he was involved with factory automation.

 In 1976, he founded Industrial Data Technologies Corporation (IDT), where he served as president and CEO until the company was sold to the Eaton Corp based out of Cleveland, Ohio. Walter continued as President of Eaton IDT until he ‘retired’ in 1996.

Thereafter, Walter became an Angel Capitalist, serving on many boards and helped mentor young entrepreneurs with their own startup companies. He invested in well over 50 companies, many of which became quite successful.

He was an avid lifelong athlete, who enjoyed skiing, playing softball, tennis and finally when he got old enough (and had the time) became a golf rookie at the age of 67. Walter enjoyed all seasons, particularly the winter when he could ski and ski race at home in Ohio as well as the high country of western North America. He did so for more than 50 years only reluctantly hanging-up his slalom skis when he reached 80 years of age.

Walter, along with his younger sister, was raised by a strict, Irish Catholic mother in a single-parent household. (Walter never knew his father - he ‘left’ when Walter was just three years old.) His mother reinforced the discipline in his life by sending Walter to a parochial elementary school run by no-nonsense nuns and later a high school run by equally dedicated religious brothers.

Since Walter was always an adventurous risk taker, his mother broke many a strong paddle over his backside trying to teach him to stay on the “straight and narrow”. Apparently, the lessons worked as he became a life-long contributor to society and his country. Walter also enjoyed music, having inherited his mother’s love of playing the piano which led to his playing the organ and bugle. While in the elementary school marching band he played the one piston base bugle and the xylophone. He was a frequent attendee of the theater as well as numerous classical and jazz concerts.

Although he had a very full, busy and successful life, the foundation of it all and the most important thing in his existence was always his family.

Walter was proud to be an American; often pointing out how only in our wonderful country of the United States of America could a very poor kid of quite humble origins become so successful. He was in awe of that until his dying days.

He is survived by his wife, and the absolute love of his life, Mary Elizabeth (Powers) Doyle; three sons, Michael (Diane), Patrick (Jane) and Christopher (Brenda); five grandchildren, Cailyn, Kelli, Connor, Katie and Colleen Doyle. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Henry Doyle; his mother, Catherine Veronica (Docherty); and his sister, Therese Marie Zauner.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Walter’s name to the Charity Newsies, 4300 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43214 and to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware County at 1855 East Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, Ohio  43229.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 10, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Catholic Church, 6899 Smoky Row Road, Columbus, Ohio. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, 9571 High Street, Lewis Center, Ohio.

Arrangements completed by EGAN-RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 4661 Kenny Road, Columbus. Visit www.egan-ryan.com. A recording of the Mass of Christian Burial will be available at a later date.

The recording of the Mass of Christian Burial on March 10, 2023 can be viewed by clicking HERE

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