‘A piece of my soul’ gone forever. Family remembers Diamondhead man killed in carjacking
Some of William Waltman’s fondest memories of his father involved their shared love of music.
“He always loved fiddling on the guitar,” he said. “Throughout my whole life, we would always just randomly spend all night jamming out to AC/DC, jumping around as if we were front row. That’s golden.”
His father, also named William Waltman, was one of five people who died Wednesday in a Gulf Coast crime spree that included the fatal carjacking of the elder Waltman, a contract employee with the city of Gulfport. Three others died in a shooting at a Biloxi hotel before the alleged gunman, Jeremy Reynolds, was found dead in a Gulfport grocery store.
Waltman, of Diamondhead, leaves behind a wife, two children and six grandchildren.
Daughter Kristi Waltman said she used to join in on the jam sessions with her dad and brother, playing the air guitar. “We had such an amazing time on those nights,” she said.
“He was taken from us. He was only 52 years old and someone killed him over a vehicle,” Kristi said. “My daughter will never get those days with Pawpaw fishing. Jeremy Reynolds took a great man away from his family who loved him so much.
“A piece of my soul is gone forever.”
The elder Waltman grew up in Bowling Green, Ohio, where his son says he was a football rock star. Shortly after graduating high school, he moved to the Coast. He was a “jack of all trades” before landing a position with the City of Pascagoula and later, the City of Gulfport as a lead electrician. “He was a professional and very good at his job in all aspects,” the younger Waltman said.
The elder Waltman was carjacked while in a city vehicle near the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Rio Grande Street. According to the Gulfport Police Department, the carjacker “discharged multiple rounds” at the elder Waltman.
He was rushed to the hospital and later died.
“My dad didn’t deserve this,” said Kristi Waltman on Thursday. “But some people are evil and don’t care.” She asked that everyone hold their loved ones closer than ever. “You really never know when they will be taken from you.”
Kristi Waltman said she was a daddy’s girl. “I always strived for his approval,” she said. “He’s always been there for us, even though sometimes it wasn’t easy.”
Their mother was killed by a drunk driver in 2020 and Kristi said she could always count on her father for advice. “Daddy was who I knew wouldn’t feed me no bull and always told me straight up.”
Her brother said their dad was a father figure for all of his friends and made him the man he is today. “No matter who he came into contact with, he always was greeted with smiles and a warm embrace,” he said. “He was loyal, dedicated and only wanted joy in the world. He was wonderful. He was my Batman. He taught me how to be an honest, hardworking man.”
The younger Waltman’s memories are tainted with regrets, “There’s a hundred apologies I’ll never be able to give him.”
This story was originally published April 29, 2022 at 12:00 AM.
