Lt. Colonel Charles Alborn Walker, USAF Retired

Charles “Chuck” Alborn Walker was born in Grand Rapids, MN on June 5, 1921 to Harold Ray Walker and Harriet Adeline Christensen Walker. He passed away on February 3, 2015 at Longhorn Village in Austin, TX. He moved to Austin, Texas just before World War II. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1941 and married Marvel Jean Snow Halden on September 11, 1942 in Topeka, KS. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on August 5, 1942. In WWII he was a bomber Liberator Pilot in the South Pacific and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for flying 250 miles with two engines on one wing knocked out of commission. That was the first time a Liberator had accomplished such a feat. He received the Oak Leaf Cluster for 200 hours of combat flying. He received the Air Force Medal for his part in a mission in which six planes sank 2 Japanese ships, and then fought their way home through 16 attacking enemy planes, shooting down 7 of them. He also received 2 Silver Stars. Following WWII, he returned to college and graduated from the University of Texas in May 1948 with BA in Chemistry and BS in Pharmacy (double major). During the Korean War, he was a flight instructor at Randolph Air Force Base. He returned to college (part-time) during the 1950’s and received his Masters and worked on his PhD in the mid 1960’s. He was elected to the Honors in the School of Pharmacy twice – once as an undergraduate and once while working on his PhD. For his Master’s Thesis he did a survey of all the pharmacies in Texas and figured the “actual cost” to fill a prescription. The results were used to determine reimbursement for Texas Medicaid Prescriptions starting in the 1960’s. He remained in the Air Force Reserve and achieved the rank Lt. Colonel. During the Bay of Pigs era his reserve unit prepared local landing fields in Central Texas for alternate landing sites for the planes then stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base.

He worked as a Pharmacist at the Halden’s Pharmacy at 13th and Colorado with his father-in-law George Halden. He owned the Burnet Road Prescription House, the Shoal Creek Pharmacy and Cedar Park Pharmacy. He retired as a pharmacist in 2001 at the age of 80.

He was preceded in death by his wife Jean Halden Walker in 2002, and one grandson, Henry David (Harry) Andrews in 1988. He is survived by his sister Carol Enid Walker Sobey and her husband Bill of Pierce, AZ and their 6 children and many grandchildren, and his 7 children -- Karen Walker Ratcliffe of Austin, TX, Arlene Suzanne Walker-Andrews and spouse David of Missoula, MT, Christie Allayne Walker Lange and spouse Paul of Round Rock, TX, Alan Gerald Walker and spouse Christine of Austin, TX, Dana Michael Walker of Yuma, AZ, Shawn Paul Walker and spouse Kimberly of Hutto, TX and Teresa Ann Walker Krauklis and spouse Brian of Katy, TX along with 23 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Chuck was active in the Lions Club, and was the last living Charter Member of the North Austin Lions Club, founded in 1948. Although he regularly worked 90+ hour weeks, he was always off on Thursday nights for his Lions Club Meeting and had perfect attendance until his health prevented his attending every meeting. He served in all the club offices, including being President 3 times, and was on the Board of Directors for the Lone Star Lions Eye Bank in Manor, TX. Chuck was an Eagle Scout, had a Palm Award and was Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 3 at the University Methodist Church and received the Silver Palm Award in 1948.

Chuck said his proudest accomplishment in life was having 7 intelligent and giving children, each with his or her own strengths and unique abilities.

Chuck will lie in state from 9:00 am-4:00 pm on Saturday, February 7, 2014. Services will be held in the Colonial Chapel of Cook Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX on Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 2:00 pm with burial to follow at Austin Memorial Park , 2800 Hancock Dr, Austin, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in his memory either to the Lone Star Lions Eye Bank, PO Box 347, Manor TX 78653, phone 512-457-0638 or 800-977-3937 or to the American Diabetes Association, 9340 Research Blvd., Austin TX 78759 phone 512-472-9838