Walter Marion Givler was born May 17, 1866, in unincorporated Copenhagen, DuPage County, Illinois. He was the first child of David B. Givler and Abbie Ann Matter.
The young Givler was educated in the public schools in Lisle Township and was employed by his father at the Naperville Clarion as a youth.
Walter attended North Central College in the class of 1888. He married Hattie Belle Byers Aug. 15, 1895, in Naperville and they were the parents of four children: Dorothy Byers who married Ernest John Tweddell Moyer; Beatrice Elizabeth who married Merrill Platt Gates, Walter Marion, Jr.; and David Byers.
Walter was a banker, working first as a clerk in 1891 and then as assistant cashier of the Naperville National Bank. In 1901 he became cashier of the Monroe County Bank in Sparta, Wisconsin. In 1907 Walter became a director and cashier of Citizens State Bank in Cadot, Wisconsin, and in 1910 he returned to Naperville and became the Cashier of the Naperville National Bank.
He served as Naperville City Commissioner from 1915 to 1919 and as Naperville City Treasurer from 1935 to 1943.
Walter was active in many community activities: Commissioner of streets and public improvements, director of the YMCA, director of the Building and Loan Association, member of the finance committee of North Central College, chairman of the agricultural committee of the Illinois Bankers Association, president of the Association of Commerce and treasurer of the Naperville Relief Society, member of the general homecoming committee of 1931, treasurer of School District 78, and curator of the Martin-Mitchell Museum.
Walter also was a trombone player in the Naperville Light Guard Band prior to the reorganization of the Naperville Municipal Band.
In addition, he was a member of the Sons of Veterans of the GAR.
As a charter member of Grace Evangelical United Brethren Church, he also served as treasurer of the church and Sunday school.
Walter was raised a Master Mason on Oct. 4, 1889, in Valley Lodge No. 60, Sparta, Wisconsin, and affiliated with Euclid Lodge Nov. 25, 1890, from Dacotah Lodge No. 7, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason Feb. 21, 1891.
He was one of the original nine Naperville Masonic Temple Association directors. Walter was also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias.
Walter Marion Givler died May 25, 1950, in Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois. Funeral services were held at the gravesite in Naperville Cemetery, with the Rev. Wilmert H. Wolf officiating.
