Hugh Smith Walter, who owned and operated a historic Harford County water mill, died of stroke complications Oct. 31 at his Forest Hill home. He was 90.

A native and lifelong resident of Forest Hill, he attended one-room schoolhouses in Harford County.

He was the fourth generation of his family to own and operate a water-powered mill. For many years, he ran Walter's Mill on his 400-acre dairy and grain farm named Bridgeview. Mr. Walter ground cornmeal, buckwheat and wheat flour, which he sold to area grocery stores, and cattle feed for farmers.

Family members said a grandson and his wife, Henry and Brenda Holloway, carry on the family tradition. But the business, known as the Mill of Bel Air, now uses electrical milling. The old mill, whose wheel no longer turns, is preserved.

Mr. Walter also owned Blue Ridge Flooring Co., a hardwood flooring business in Darlington.

He was a former director of Delta Bank, Southern Pennsylvania Bank and Harford Memorial Hospital in Havre de Grace. He also belonged to the Bel Air Rotary, Masonic Lodge No. 176 in Cardiff and Harford County Farm Bureau.

His wife of 51 years, the former Alma Bachman, died in 1991.

Services were held Sunday at Highland Presbyterian Church in Street, where he was a member.

He is survived by two daughters, Barbara W. Holloway of Darlington and Ruth W. Lawrence of Forest Hill; eight grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. Another daughter, Dolores Healy, died in 1993.