Walt McJunkin

By Ben Robinson

Courier

LIBERTY — The city of Liberty is mourning the death of longtime councilman Walt McJunkin, who passed away Saturday at age 88.

“He was probably the councilman most in touch with the people,” Liberty Mayor Michael Sheriff said. “You could often find him at the post office, talking to people about their concerns.”

McJunkin was elected to city council 11 times and “loved” the people of Liberty, Sheriff said.

McJunkin was born in Wareplace, and raised in Greenville. He attended Welcome School and later was a scholarship athlete at Newberry College. He played professional baseball in the Coastal Plain League, once serving as player-manager for a team.

During two of his terms as a Liberty city councilman, McJunkin was also Mayor Pro Tem.

He retired from Kanawa Life Insurance Company.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific Theater.

McJunkin was a longtime member of East Side Baptist Church and the Liberty Lions Club.

“He was quite a gentleman,” Sheriff added. “He will be dearly missed.”