CHESAPEAKE—Walter R. “Tepe” Jarvis Sr., 94, of the 1900 block of Robert Hall Blvd., died Dec. 24, 2007, in Sentara Norfolk General Hospital after a brief illness.

Mr. Jarvis was surrounded by his family. He was born Jan. 30, 1913, the fifth child of the late Isaac and Carrie Reid Jarvis.

He was a lifelong resident of the Oak Grove section of Norfolk County (now Chesapeake), and attended its public schools.

At an early age, he joined Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Chesapeake and remained a member throughout his life.

He worked for several years at the Smith Douglass Company. He retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in December 1976 after 31 years of service during which he was recognized for his outstanding safety record.

An avid outdoorsman, he was an expert fisherman and crabber. He was also known for skills as a vegetable gardener.

Using tools he often made himself, he worked the land by hand to produce beautiful and bountiful vegetable gardens.

He loved all sports, especially baseball, at which he excelled as a young man.

His loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Dewotha Stewart Jarvis died in 2001.

Survivors include six children, Walter R. Jarvis Jr. of Chesapeake, Melvin D. Jarvis of Springdale, Md.; Jacqueline Butler of Voorhees, N.J., Carlton L. Jarvis of Smithfield, Raeminton (Ray) Jarvis of Milwaukee, Wis. and Bernard K. Jarvis of Washington, D.C.; one brother, Simon Eugene Jarvis of Baltimore, Md.; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Kempsville Road, Chesapeake.

Burial will be at Roosevelt Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Graves Funeral Home, Norfolk.