He was born on January 31, 1935, in Flint, MI, the son of the late Franklin B. and Mabel M. (Lowe) Walker. He graduated in the Class of 1953 from Flint Northern High School and following his service in the U.S. Navy he married Barbara Randall on September 6, 1958, in Owosso, MI.
Don worked in Engineering Data Management for the Delphi Division of General Motors, retiring in 1999 and moving to Springfield, IL where he became a member of Grace Bible Chapel and a tireless volunteer of Springfield’s Rees Carillon and Art Spectacular at the Carillon. In the 1970s he was a children's evangelist, sharing his original spellbinding stories/lessons, magic and ventriloquism. He also enjoyed Bible study, woodworking, flower gardening, and baking carrot cakes. Throughout subsequent decades Don worked with the youth of the church. Most important to Don was being a wonderful husband, a great father to his 2 sons and his faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior.
Besides his wife Barbara, he is survived by his 2 sons, R. Scott (wife Joan) Walker of Philadelphia, PA, and Donald Dale (wife Eileen) Walker PhD of Ft. Worth, TX; 3 grandsons, William (wife Aria) Walker, David (wife Maggie) Walker, and Douglas (wife Alyssa) Walker; 7 great-grandchildren, Roman, Andrew, Elizabeth Rose, Gracelynn, Calderwood, Zion, and Cole Walker; his twin brother Ronald (wife June) Walker of Manteno, IL.; sister-in-law Virginia Ruth (husband Jay) Kraai of Grand Rapids, MI; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Charlie, Frank (Mike), and Ira Walker; and sisters Joyanne Cook, Cora Francetic, Lila Goldman, Cecile LaBarr, Ethel McNiece, Ellen Rowe, and Freda Zelenko.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bisch Funeral Home West, Springfield. Memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024, from 10:00 AM until the memorial service at 11:00 AM in the chapel at Concordia Village, 4101 W. Iles, Springfield, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:
• Grace Bible Chapel @ 3335 Woodhaven Dr., Springfield, IL 62712-8781
• Rees Memorial Carillon @ P.O. Box 9468, Springfield, IL 62704-9468
• Marine Toys for Tots Foundation @ 436 South 6th, Suite 200, Quincy, IL 62301
• The Navigators @ 3820 N 30th St., Colorado Springs, CO 80904
