Walter Davis Sessums, 71, of Brandon, Florida passed away on December 25, 2016 at Brandon Regional Hospital. Known to most as "Dave," he was born September 10, 1945 in St. Louis, MO as his parents were traveling cross country. Dave spent his youth in California, Mississippi, and Virginia and graduated with a degree in English Literature from New York University. After teaching mechanics at Northern Virginia Community College, he moved his family to Tampa, Florida where he ran his own tool business. From there he went to work at the shipyard as an outside machinist at Tampa Ship Repair working his way up to president of International Ship Repair. As he often said, he "came up through the hawsepipe." Dave was active in the Port of Tampa Propeller Club, treasurer for the Greater Tampa Sertoma Club, and was intimately involved with the Hillsborough County School Board in the development of the Maritime and Marine Environmental Science Academy. A truly competent machinist and mechanic, he enjoyed traveling with his wife Susan in their classic GMC RV aka "The Bus." He enjoyed foreign travel and was always curious about other cultures. He is survived by his wife Susan L. Sessums from Yorkshire, England, his son Christopher, his brothers John, Bob, Bill, his sister Anne Rubin, and his three grandchildren, Duncan, Zo«, and Samuel. A service and remembrance of his life will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 PM January 6th at Serenity Meadows, 6919 Providence Road, Riverview, FL 33578. Donations in remembrance of Dave can be made to the Greater Tampa Sertoma Club who assist more than 50 million people with speech, hearing and language disorders.