Walter B. Dworak, 97, of Edison, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, October 4, 2026, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of love, generosity, hard work, service, and devotion to his family.

Born in Hopelawn, New Jersey, to the late William and Mary Semanik Dworak, Walter lived a remarkable life over the course of his 97 years.

Walter’s adventurous and fearless spirit showed itself early. At just 15 years old, after the devastating passing of his beloved mother, he ran away to travel with the carnival and was a motorcycle stuntman, an early glimpse of the courage, independence, and determination that would remain with him throughout his life.

He later answered the call to serve his country as a member of the United States Army. He enlisted in the service for 4 years serving in post war Germany and re-enlisted for an additional 2 years where he served in the Korean War. Walter was deeply proud of his military service and was honored with the Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and Presidential Unit Citation. His service reflected the qualities that defined him throughout his life: courage, loyalty, sacrifice, and a willingness to step forward when others needed him.

Following his military service, Walter spent nearly his entire working life as a truck driver and self-employed owner-operator. He owned and operated Walter Dworak Trucking Company in Edison and continued working until the remarkable age of 89. Walter took tremendous pride in his work, but what stood out most was the way people responded to him. Everywhere he went, he was beloved. Customers, coworkers, business associates, neighbors, and acquaintances often became lifelong friends.

Above all else, Walter was a family man. Nothing made him prouder than his children and the lives they built. His love for his family was evident not only in what he said, but in how he lived. He showed up. He helped. He protected. He encouraged. He gave whatever he could, whenever he could.

Walter had an exceptionally kind and generous nature. He spent his life taking care of people, often quietly and without ever expecting recognition in return. Over the years, he helped many people financially when they were struggling, but his generosity was just as evident in the smallest gestures. He continued doing those little things for people even in their final days because bringing someone a moment of happiness mattered to him.

That generosity was not dependent on how much Walter had himself. Even when he had very little, he would give everything he could to someone else. Selflessness was not something he practiced occasionally. It was simply who he was.

His compassion extended well beyond his immediate family and friends. Walter was a longtime volunteer with the Middlesex County Association of the Blind, generously giving his time to drive people to appointments and wherever else they needed to go. He was also a communicant of Our Lady of Peace R.C. Church in Fords and a member of the Woodbridge Lions Club, American Legion T. Nulty Post #471, Edison Elks, and Deutscher Club of Clark.

Over the course of 97 years, Walter touched an extraordinary number of lives. Some knew him as a husband, father, grandfather, or great-grandfather. Others knew him as a brother, friend, veteran, truck driver, businessman, neighbor, or volunteer. Regardless of how someone knew him, they knew they had encountered a man with an enormous heart.

He lived through nearly a century of change, but the values by which he lived remained constant: work hard, love your family, keep your word, help people whenever you can, and never forget where you came from.

Walter was predeceased by his beloved sons, Scott Dworak, who passed away in 2000, and Walter A. “Bubie” Dworak, who passed away in 2004; his first wife, Marga Schmidt Dworak; his sisters, Agnes Hanley and Rose Fischer; his brothers, William Dworak, David Dworak, and Edward Dworak; and his parents, William and Mary Dworak.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Geraldine Kovacs Dworak; his children, Kurt Dworak of North Brunswick, Susie Bonavita of Toms River (her husband Rusario), and Paige Dworak of Blauvelt, New York; his brother, Michael Dworak of Neptune (his partner Kathy), New Jersey; and his sister, Susan Shevchenko of Georgia.

Walter’s legacy continues through his beloved grandchildren, Sandy (her husband Carmine), Johnny (his wife Maria), Walter, Destiny, and Faith, and his great-grandchildren, Brianna, Carmine, Gia, Nevaeh, Edison, and Nova.

Those who loved Walter will remember his strength, his work ethic, his humor, his generosity, his loyalty, and most of all, his enormous heart. His life cannot be measured simply by the number of years he lived, but by the family he built, the people he helped, the sacrifices he made, the friendships he formed, and the countless lives that were better because Walter Dworak was part of them.

He worked hard. He served his country with honor. He loved his family fiercely. He gave freely. Wherever he went, he left people feeling cared for.

Walter will be profoundly missed, but the kindness, strength, generosity, and love he gave so freely throughout his life will continue through his family and through every person fortunate enough to have known him. His was truly a life well lived.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Costello-Greiner Funeral Home, 44 Green Street, Woodbridge.

An additional viewing will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, October 10, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The funeral will proceed from Costello-Greiner Funeral Home at 10:00 a.m., followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Liturgy at Our Lady of Peace R.C. Church in Fords. Interment will follow at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Hopelawn.