"To say that Ruth Brennan was at the center of her husband's life is no understatement. He never disparaged her supporting role, never spoke like some men do of "the wife," as if referring to a possession, even an encumbrance. Marriage was not a joking matter to Walter, ever. His son Andy remembers his father's response to a dirty joke about an actress. Walter didn't laugh, but instead paused and said, "My wife is the most wonderful woman in the world. When things were really rough and I was out of work--and at times disappointed but never discouraged--there was never a word of criticism. She'd say, 'Try again tomorrow.' I'm so lucky that I found someone like her."