Much loved husband, father, brother, son and friend, Walter D. Harp passed peacefully at his home in Mercer Island, Washington, on November 6, 2019, surrounded by his beloved wife, children and family.
Walt filled his 49 years to the maximum at work, at home and at play. A self-proclaimed workaholic, Walt was an accomplished marketer, entrepreneur and author. He was also an athlete, water sports enthusiast, world traveler, and connoisseur of Tom and Jerry cartoons. Fun-loving and goofy, Walt had a deep affinity for babies and dogs – particularly pugs – and always saw the best in people. He also dominated at Scrabble and was known both for his creative intellect and quick, sarcastic wit.
Walt came of age and made many life-long friends in Des Moines, Iowa, before attending Stanford University and Columbia Business School. Prior to graduate school, he lived and worked in Washington, D.C. and Taipei, Taiwan, with his unwavering life partner, wife and fellow mischief maker of 25 years, Angela Lean. The couple has lived in the Seattle area since 2001, where they raised their children and established cherished ties to their friends and community.
Walt died after a fierce eleven-year battle with Leukemia. His greatest legacy is his children, Luke (16) and Sofia (12). In addition to his immediate family, Walt is survived by his mother and stepfather, Sharon and Leland Flora; father and stepmother, Doug and Mary Harp; grandfather, Thomas Harp (a.k.a. Grandpa Buddy); brother, Porter Harp; sister, Heather Browning; and dear friends and family from around the world who adored him.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Luke and Sofia’s college funds. For more information, please contact Heather Welch – hwpuri@gmail.com.
Registering as a bone marrow donor takes a matter of minutes. In the US, you can register online with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMPD) at bethematch.org.
If you would like a copy of Walter’s book chronicling his battle with Leukemia, Into the Fun House, please feel free to visit Island Books, 3401 78th Ave SE Mercer Island, WA 98040 (206-232-6920) or online at www.amazon.com.
