He was born July 5, 1922, at Hulbert, Okla., to John J. and Lula B. (Hurley) Walker. When he was 5, the family moved to Parsons, where he grew up and attended schools. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater for 2 1/2 years as a sergeant first class in a reconnaissance unit observing German positions.
He married Gwendolyn Lipscomb on Sept. 16, 1942, at Parsons. She survives of the home.
Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Parsons, where he owned and operated Walker Excavating and Grading. He acquired a hot-mix asphalt plant in 1960. He was a member of the Kansas Conservation Contractors Association and won an award as best contractor of the year in 1966. He served four years as president of the Southeast Kansas Contractors. He sold his business in 1970.
He purchased a weekend home on Grand Lake in 1962 and moved there following his retirement. He then purchased Evergreen Mobile Home Park and was there until 1976. During his time at Grove, he was a board member of the Grand Lake Association. He moved to Fort Myers Beach, Fla., where he spent his winters and spent the rest of the year traveling in his RV with his wife across the United States and Canada. He moved to Lawrence in 2009.
He was a member of First Christian Church. He enjoyed spending time on Grand Lake and the Gulf of Mexico, fishing, boating and traveling.
In addition to his wife, Tater is survived by his son, Dustin Walker, and his wife, Kathy, of Lawrence; a sister, Ruth Speights, and her husband, Floyd, of Joplin; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by four sisters, Myrtle Cochran, Pearle Williams, Mable Brown and Velma Mazingo; and two brothers, Cecil Walker and Raymond Walker.
The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call at Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons at their convenience. The casket will remain closed.
Memorials are suggested to the choice of the donor and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
Post a Comment