Walter R. Mears, ‘Boys on the Bus’ Campaign Reporter, Dies at 87

He labored on the coed newspaper at Middlebury Faculty, the place he graduated with a bachelor’s diploma in English in 1956. He first job at The A.P. was overlaying the Vermont State Home.

In 1962, Mr. Mears’s home caught hearth, killing his two kids, Pamela and Walter Jr., and his spouse, Sally (Danton) Mears. Two subsequent marriages, to Joyce (Lund) Mears and Carroll Ann (Imle) Mears, led to divorce. His fourth spouse, Frances (Rioux) Mears, additionally a journalist at The A.P., died of most cancers in 2019.

After retiring in 2001, Mr. Mears taught journalism on the College of North Carolina and lived in Chapel Hill.

Along with his daughter Susan, from his marriage to Joyce Mears, Mr. Mears is survived by one other daughter from that marriage, Stephanie Stich; a brother, William; and 5 grandchildren.

The afternoon earlier than he died, Susan Mears mentioned, his daughters have been holding him firm, together with a Methodist pastor who had lengthy identified him. The pastor, describing Mr. Mears’s experience in American politics, recalled a dialog a few years earlier throughout which he had been amazed at how a lot Mr. Mears knew concerning the 1936 presidential election, which came about when he was 1 yr outdated.

As Mr. Mears appeared to sleep, the pastor tried to recollect the title of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Republican challenger.

Earlier than both of the Mears daughters had an opportunity to answer, they heard a well-known voice — softer and slower than they have been accustomed to, however with the velocity, authoritative tone and factual command that had for many years guided America’s main political reporters.

“Alf Landon,” Mr. Mears mentioned.