Rudolph Emory Walters was born on November 5, 1874, in Cockery (Wilkes County), North Carolina. Walters served in the army as a sergeant during the Philippine-American War and then remained there as part of the police force. He later served as governor of the Province of Mindoro and gave ten years to the U.S. Civil Service.

He joined the military again shortly after America's entrance into World War I, this time as a captain in the 322nd Infantry. While stationed at Camp Jackson, Walters injured a hip during grenade practice and was subsequently honorably discharged on account of physical disability in April 1918. Walters then received an appointment to serve as chairman of the Wilkes County Council of Defense. Following the war's end, Walters served as commander of the Wilkes County Post of the American Legion.

For a short time, Walters was chief of police in North Wilkesboro and from 1928 to 1933 was postmaster of the same. He died in Swannanoa (Buncombe County) on October 15, 1949.