Dr. Joanne "Joey" Walker

Dr. Joanne (Joey) Barbour Walker, age 63, of Ann Arbor, Michigan passed away peacefully on Monday, January 3, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. Joey was born on June 4, 1958 in Pontiac, Michigan, the second of three children to Dr. David Alexander Barbour and Elizabeth Millington Barbour who had emigrated from England to Michigan before starting their family.

Joey grew up in Flint, Michigan where she enjoyed a fun-filled childhood with family, neighbors, and friends. She enjoyed the frequent trips to Britain to visit family, and the special sailing holidays in the Caribbean. Joey loved outdoor activities and, like her mother, was a natural athlete. She graduated from Carman High School in 1976, competed in three different sports, played flute in various school bands, and received multiple academic recognitions, including the school’s highest honor. Joey was a talented singer and guitarist, like her father, and released an album in 1980.

Joey pursued higher education at Alma College earning a BS degree in Biology in 1980, and again received multiple academic awards. She went on to earn her medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1984. She completed a 4-year Diagnostic Radiology Residency and 1-year Cross-Sectional Imaging Fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit before joining as a staff radiologist. Joey later joined Huron Valley Radiology in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1990 and was instrumental in developing and expanding the St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital’s Women Health Imaging Center as a physician leader beginning 2005 to 2011. She continued her work there until her retirement in 2020 so she could focus on her health.

Joey and Brian met at Alma College and shared many interests including music, sports, love of nature and good food, and became each other’s best friend for life. They married in 1981 in Owosso, Michigan and lived in Plymouth, Michigan for several years prior to moving to Ann Arbor. They welcomed both their children into their loving home over the next few years. She was immensely proud of Drew and Jackie, and the lives they’d built for themselves. Joey relished the times when they returned home so she could get some "BC", body contact with them.

Joey also had a passion for swimming, skiing, sailing and golfing. She looked forward to the family ski trips to Colorado, and summer vacations in northern Michigan. In her later years, Joey enjoyed traveling, vacationing at their home in Naples, Florida, playing pickleball, solving puzzles of all kinds, baking, reading, crocheting and knitting (especially baby blankets for family and friends) — which she referred to as “low level brain activity.” And above all, Joey enjoyed spending time with her first grandchild Charlotte, and knowing that she would soon have a little sister.

Joey is survived by her beloved husband Brian Walker; her cherished children - son Drew Walker (wife Julia and their daughter Charlotte) and daughter Dr. Jackie Walker; as well as her sister Julie Barbour Staton (husband Craig and their son Chris); and brother David Barbour (wife Shelly and their sons Ian and Kyle).

Joey was preceded in death by her parents, David Barbour (2014) and Elizabeth Barbour (2021).

A visitation with Joey’s family will be held Friday, January 7, 2022, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Muehlig Funeral Chapel, 403 S. 4th Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104.

Joey was an exceptional example of what we all strive to be — a caring, competent and compassionate person who inspired others with her natural graciousness to all, in all circumstances. Her innate equanimity was the rock that helped her to both achieve and endure. Contributions in Joey's memory may be made via the URL below, on the American Cancer Society website which will be specified for lung cancer research. Her family will be matching all contributions up to the goal of $25,000.

https://raiseyourway.donordrive.com/campaign/joanne-walker

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Walker family at www.muehligannarbor.com