Walter Edwin Berndt Jr's Obituary
Walter Edwin “Ed” Berndt Jr., 74, passed away unexpectedly on November 18, 2025, at his lake house in Corsicana, Texas. His family and friends are deeply saddened by the tragic accident that took his life far too soon.
Ed was born on May 26, 1951, in Dallas, Texas, and grew up on the Berndt Family Farm, the son of the late Annie Lou “Mama B” Little and Walter Edwin “Papa B” Berndt Sr. His childhood was filled with adventure, mischief, and strong family bonds. He was an active Boy Scout in Troop 121 at First Carrollton Methodist and spent cherished summers at Camp Constantin on Possum Kingdom Lake—complete with legendary bonfires and lifelong friendships. Saturdays were spent helping on his father’s egg route in Dallas, often selling fresh vegetables from the
farm. Ed’s playful spirit showed early—once surprising his parents and sisters by inviting a snake along for the ride.
As a teen, Ed worked at the prestigious Colombian Country Club, assisting in the kitchen for some of Dallas’s most distinguished patrons. It was there that he developed a lifelong love for cooking, later becoming known for his home-cooked Southern meals and mastery of the grill. True to his thrifty nature, he enjoyed finding great deals on groceries and always made the most of a Sam’s Club sale.
After graduating from R.L. Turner High School, his parents gifted him a 1969 Pontiac GTO with custom plates reading “GOAT69,” sparking a lifelong passion for cars. He earned an architecture degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and survived a 25-foot fall from a ladder while working in construction—a testament to his resilience. In 1980, he completed his MBA from the University of Dallas.
Professionally, Ed applied his engineering and business talents at Frito-Lay and later at InterFirst Bank Plaza in downtown Dallas as Vice President. He also had an entrepreneurial streak and partnered with his nephew Michael in the 1990s to run several ladies’ shoe stores, Shoe Safari, often joking about the hours he spent helping women try on shoes. Among his greatest joys was supporting his daughter in competitive show jumping. He never missed a horse show, purchased her beloved horse, Aspen, and captured every moment in photographs that became some of his most treasured memories.
Ed met Pam in 2005, and with her, he gained a son, Jeremy, whom he loved as his own. They married in 2007 and shared countless adventures together, often traveling to Mexico, Hawaii, and Florida. Ed later purchased a peaceful lake house on Richland Chambers Lake and 500 acres in Oakwood, where he delighted in exploring the land on his John Deere Gator.
Ed was a devoted father and proud grandfather, cheering on his grandchildren—Connor and Camryn—at their sports and activities. They affectionately called him Papa B. He cared for his father until his passing at age 102, and for his wife Pam during her battle with cancer until her passing on May 26, 2025—his birthday.
Ed will be forever remembered and cherished as Papa B. Though we may feel sadness now, he would want us to remember the laughter he shared and the way he could make anyone laugh with his perfectly timed jokes.
He is survived by his sisters—Deanna Berndt Averett and family, and Kathryn Berndt Westbrook and family—his children and their spouses, his cherished grandchildren, and a loving circle of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends, all of whom will carry forward his memory and the happiness he brought into their lives.
Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Restland Funeral Home in the Wildwood Chapel, with Pastor Nathan Tucker officiating.
A graveside service will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that
donations be made in Ed’s memory to the American Cancer Society
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