Walter Ely Buser, 90, formerly of New Castle, PA and Middletown, NJ, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Dec. 11, 2016 at Quality Health of Fernandina Beach, FL.

Born January 23, 1926 in New York City, he attended Columbia University and served in the State Guard of Vermont before serving in the United States Navy from 1944 � 1946 on the USS Rendova in Seattle, WA. In 1947 he married Kathrene Yazwin, whom he had known since the second grade and they made their first home in Bayside, NY. Walter worked as an interior design and space planner for Lord & Taylor and Lerner�s department stores. In 1951 he accepted a position as an Architect with the Port of New York Authority. From 1955 to 1976, he lived in Middletown, NJ designing major New York city projects such as Teterboro Airport, Idlewild Airport, (now known as JFK airport), and the main terminal for Newark Airport. He was also responsible for the architectural design and engineering of many large scale underground transportation hubs that ran between New Jersey and New York. By far, his most memorable assignment was the underground shopping and railroad terminal areas associated with the iconic twin towers of the World Trade Center. His walls now display the waterfall memorial at the WTC site. Upon retiring in 1976, he and his wife moved to CO where he continued to practice as an Architect, opening private offices in Denver and Loveland, CO. The Busers later moved to New Castle, PA, where they were members at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Walter designed the Lawrence County MRI & Diagnostic Imaging Center, the New Castle Playhouse renovations and its Annex, Dolce Vita Restaurant, and the Pharmacy and offices across the street. In 2015, they relocated to Fernandina Beach.

Mr. Buser leaves behind his wife of 69 years, Kay Buser; their daughter, Linda Speed and her husband, Jim; their son, Stephen Buser and his wife, Wendy, all of Fernandina Beach, FL; a sister-in-law, Adele Buser, Pembroke Pines, FL; grandchildren, Lee Speed (Beth), Megan McCammon (Touby), Jonathan Speed (Lindsey), Justin Buser, Jordan Buser (Jessica), Kyle Buser, Michelle Foley (Kevin); eight great grandchildren, Carly, Brooke, Jacob, Conner, Preston, Caiden, Kaelynn, Logan and 4 nieces, Sharon Buser, Barbara Roth, Milla Ilieff, and Lana Allen.

A private family Memorial service will be held at a later date.