Walter D. Landes was born April 6, 1890 in Allen County, Ohio. He was the son of Emmett and Edna (Leedy) Landes. On June 12, 1912 he married Nina E. Byerly, daughter of David and Mary Byerly. They had four childen, Miriam (born October 30, 1914), Lester (born December 31, 1917), Marjorie (born June 26, 1922), and Joan (born October 14, 1929). Walter was a farmer and also taught school for 10 years. His pastoral work includes service at the Marion, Pleasant View, Sugar Creek, Lima, and County Line churches, all in Northwestern Ohio. He died in 1957.