Walter Vaughn Shank, son of Walter Shank and Bernice E. Linn, was born in Renovo, Clinton Co., PA March 26, 1933. Birth site: Renovo Hospital  He married Lenora Peoples 1969 and they separated in 1972. He resided in Shintown, Clinton Co., PA 1933 - 1943. He resided in Sterrettania, Erie Co., PA 1943 - 1951. He resided in North East, Erie Co., PA from 1951 until his death. He graduated from McKean High School  in McKean, Mc Kean Co., PA, in 1951. Walter's occupation: machinist apprentice in 1951 for a machinist apprentice. Walter also performed tool repair work. He was a student of accounting and typing 1952 - 1953. School: Erie Commercial College, but didn't graduate because of being drafted. Walter served in the military (U.S. Army) Apr 1, 1953 - Mar 28, 1955 and  was in the Military Police.

He was a student of accounting, economics, & music Sept 1955 - Dec 1957. School: Barron College. During the last semester, he took only music courses. He didn't graduate from Barron College, an extension of Penn[sylvania] State. Walter again served in the military Mar 1958 - Dec 1960. Walter enlisted as an MP and finished out his last year as a clerk-typist. Walter enlisted  in the military Mar 1961 - Mar 1965. Walter worked in the area of electronics his occupation was wiring from 1965 - 1969 for General Electric. While working full-time at General Electric, Walter worked part time in the field of music. He taught for a music store by providing the "free" lessons that were provided to customers when they bought an organ. Piano and Organ are his primary instruments. He would play dinner music, a roller rink on Monday nights, and restaurants on Friday & Saturday nights. In 1969, he went full time into the music business as working part time in music and full time at General Electric was too much of a burden. As of July 1998, he was still working in the field of music part-time.

Walter Vaughn Shank and Lenora Peoples had the following child. Todd Shank Buzzard  was born in Erie, Erie Co., PA November 1972. While born as a Shank, Todd's surname was changed to Buzzard upon his adoption by Lenora's husband (subsequent to Walter Shank).