Charles "Ford" Walker

WALKER, Charles “Ford”, 95, of Redington Shores, died Feb. 26, 2013 at home. Ford was born in Athens, TN to Charles F. and Lilly W. (Lawson) Walker , Sr. on March 22, 1917. Ford married Helen Beatrice ("Bea") Tate on Jan. 4, 1955 in Rossville, GA, and together they made their home on the Gulf Coast of Florida for almost 60 years. He was an extraordinary building contractor until his retirement in 1982 when he began his second career as a rancher in Levy County, Florida, where he raised cattle and tended several horses, chickens, peacocks, cats and guineas. As a contractor he mentored and employed several young men, helping them to grow into hard-working, responsible adults. Ford had a positive impact on everyone he came in contact with whether customer, employee, family member or daily acquaintance. He was also an avid hunter and survived more trials and tribulations than any one man should have to including losing his right arm at age 14, bitten by a rattlesnake not once but two separate times, bitten by a scorpion, kicked by a horse, and suffering second degree burns in an accident. Never deterred and always an optimist, Ford’s favorite saying was ’can’t never could do anything’. Ford also served on the Redington Beach City Council and was of the Christian faith. He is survived by his wife Bea, sister-in-law Twila Yoakley, Knoxville, TN, nephews, Gary T. Ridenour, Rockledge, FL, Douglas A. Yoakley, Charles H. Walker, Randy Walker of Knoxville, TN, and nieces Jo Bruce, Kay Hembry, Mary Ann Hutto, St. Augustine, FL, and Jimmie Thomas, Auburndale, FL. The family would also like to thank his caregivers Rosa McKenzie and Barbara Hayes whom were invaluable to Ford the last five years. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the American Red Cross. Friends and family will be received at Moss Feaster funeral home in Largo, FL at 5pm Saturday, March 2, with a memorial service to be held at 6pm.