LCDR Chad Eric Walls, DO, MC, USN, 43

April 02, 2024

LCDR Chad Eric Walls, DO, MC, USN, 43, of Marietta, PA, passed away surrounded by his loving family on April 2, 2024. Chad was born on February 10, 1981, in Bismarck, ND, to Dennis and Jackie Walls and grew up in Baldwin, ND, on a hobby farm.

Chad completed his pre-med degree at the University of North Dakota. He attended medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, FL, graduating in 2010 at the top of his class. He did an internship at Fort Smith Naval Hospital in Norfolk, VA. He completed his naval flight surgeon training at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, FL. He later moved to Corpus Christi, TX, to fulfill his military commitment as the lead Naval flight surgeon, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In 2015, he moved to Erie, PA, to complete a residency in orthopedic surgery at Millcreek Community Hospital. He finished his residency in 2019 and moved to York, PA, to do his fellowship in orthopedic trauma surgery at Wellspan Hospital. After his fellowship, he remained in Pennsylvania, where he became the director of orthopedic trauma at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. He recently started practicing at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health. Chad was passionate about his patients, and his work ethic was unmatched.

During his residency in 2016, Chad met the love of his life, Karisa Beebe. They married on July 2, 2022, and moved to Marietta, PA, in 2023 to advance their careers as attending physicians. They were excited about starting their lives together. They shared a love for traveling, spending quality time together, making memories with close friends and family, and spoiling their puppy, Sophie, who brought so much joy to their lives.

Chad loved life and didn’t do anything with less than 100% effort. He was athletic, loved baseball, and was a pitcher through high school and college, earning a scholarship for his talent. He was an avid football fan and loved rooting for the Minnesota Vikings (regardless of their win-loss record). He also had a variety of other hobbies and interests, including hunting with his brother and father, skiing with his mother, cooking, traveling, aviation, golfing, making wine, and finding the humor in life. Chad treasured being surrounded by family and friends, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them. Although his first passion was orthopedic surgery, he was knowledgeable on numerous topics and could converse with anyone about anything.

There are not enough words or time to accurately describe who Chad was or his impact on everyone around him. He was a loving man with a huge heart who was generous to a fault. He will be remembered for this, as well as for being kind, loyal, patient, and living life to the fullest. He was tremendously loved and will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his loving wife Karisa Beebe; parents Dennis and Jackie Walls; brother Wade Walls (Jennifer); brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Brandon Beebe (Erin), Dustin Beebe (Katy), Kyle Beebe (Amanda), and Lindsay Millet; mother-in-law Dannette Beebe (Dave Millet); father-in-law Brad Beebe (Susan); nieces and nephews: Morgan, McKenna, Cameron, Tate, Chase, Grant, Miles and Maddox; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; a host of beloved family and friends (everyone had the potential to become family to Chad) including John, Nancy, Elena, and Jessie Susens; and his Black Labrador retriever, Sophie.

Chad was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jack and Luella Kary, Glen and Gladys Walls; Aunt Doris Hetland; Uncle and Aunt Greg and Kim Walls; Uncle Rodney Kary; and Aunt Dona Kary.

A memorial service will be held on April 12, 2024, at Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home, 2421 Willow Street Pike, Willow Street, PA 17584. Visitation hours are from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and the service will be from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. A celebration of life reception will follow at 5:30 p.m. at the Olde Village Mill, 1350 Village Road, Strasburg, PA. There will also be an additional memorial in North Dakota at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Chad Eric Walls LECOM student scholarship fund. Please send checks to Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1858 W Grandview Blvd, Erie, PA 16509.

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