Rev. George Walters; Longtime Methodist Minister, Church Executive in Southland

The Rev. George Walters, veteran minister and executive in Southern California Methodist churches who served the large Northridge United Methodist Church for 17 years, has died. He was 70.

Walters died Jan. 19 in his Ventura home of liver cancer, said his wife, Mary Jo.

He retired in 1995 after six years as superintendent of the San Diego District of the United Methodist Church. During his tenure there, he supervised more than 50 area churches.

He also served as secretary of the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the Methodist Church.

Born in Oregon and raised in Prescott, Ariz., and Monrovia, Walters graduated from the University of the Pacific at Stockton and Union Theology Seminary in New York City. He began his ministry in Arcadia, and served seven years as pastor of the La Mirada Methodist Church, where he organized a youth meeting place in the 1960s called “Intersection.”

The coffeehouse for teenagers, which included a snack bar and movie theater, attracted about 900 young people to monthly events, including psychedelic light shows and electronic bands.

Walters became known during his ministry for his creative approach to Sunday worship services, often including interpretive dance groups and guitar and banjo music.

“Our worship life must be related to our worldly life,” he told The Times in 1968.

Walters was pastor of the Northridge church from 1967 until 1984, when he moved to the Santa Barbara United Methodist Church for five years.

In addition to his wife, Walters is survived by a daughter, Ann, and son, Mark, both of Simi Valley, and a brother, James, of Healdsburg, Calif.

Services are scheduled for 3 p.m. Feb. 25, at the Northridge United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd., Northridge.

A memorial fund is being established in his honor.