Walter H. Schoch, 83, of Astoria, died Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at his home in Astoria.

He was born Oct. 16, 1922, in Haddon Heights, N.J., to Howard and Martha Schoch.

Mr. Schoch graduated from Collingswood High School in New Jersey in 1940 and is an alumnus of Pennsylvania Military College. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS McKee during World War II and was master-at-arms at Litchfield Park Naval Air Station, Arizona, during the Korean War.

In 1985, Mr. Schoch retired as vice president of government programs from Lockheed California Company in Burbank, Calif., where he worked for 33 years.

In retirement, the Schochs purchased a vacation home in the Astoria area, and made it their permanent home three years ago.

Mr. Schoch is survived by his wife, Shirley Schoch; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Randall and Cheri Schoch of Paradise Valley, Ariz., and David Schoch of Burbank; four stepchildren, Ernie Jr., Greg and Dan Urroz and Tina Plumb; 11 grandchildren, Jessica, Randall and Victoria Schoch, Brian, Chad, Christine, Jason, Jeremy and Melissa Urroz, Christina Hurley and Brian Glogowski.

A memorial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Akes Family Funeral Home in Rriverside, Calif., followed by committal services with military honors at 1 p.m. at Riverside National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lower Columbia Hospice, in care of Hughes-Ransom Cremation & Mortuaries, 576 12th St., Astoria, OR 97103.