Garland William Walker Jr.

Funeral: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at Handley United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation: The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Shannon Rose Hill Funeral Chapel.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Handley United Methodist Church, 2929 Forest Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76112, or to a charity of choice.

Garland William Walker , Jr. was born December 29, 1918 in San Antonio, Texas, to Garland William Walker, Sr. and Kathryn Agnes Vickers Walker. He graduated from Silsbee High School in 1936 lettering in football and track. He attended Texas A&M University and later Arlington State College. In 1943, he joined the US Army Air Corps serving as a pilot and training instructor during World War II. He returned to duty in the Air Force Reserve serving his country until 1961 as a pilot and flight engineer on B-52 Bombers achieving the rank of Captain.

He met his wife of 58 years, Virginia Richardson Walker, on a blind date New Year’s Eve 1945. He loved to dance especially to the music of the Big Bands and was attracted to her because she was a good dancer. They were married December of 1946.

In March 1947, he started working at Consolidated Vultee (Convair) as an inspector on the assembly line. Convair eventually was bought by General Dynamics, and he worked at many jobs with the company until he became a Senior Quality Control Engineer. He retired from General Dynamics in 1981 after 35 years of service.

He was a member of Handley United Methodist Church for 56 years serving on the Administrative Council. He was a 60 year Mason, a member of the Eastern Star serving as Worthy Patron of Handley Chapter 617 in 1967-68 going on to become a state officer in Eastern Star. He was a charter member of El Texa Grotto, a social and service organization for masons. During his son’s growing years, he served as assistant cub scout and assistant scout master and was actively involved with the Parent’s Council of the Texas Boys Choir.

He passionately loved the music of the Big Band era collecting albums and

music from that time sharing it with family and friends. He enjoyed making model airplanes, especially those flown during World War II, and he was well

known for his home-made wine. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and he loved traveling with his wife after his retirement. He was very proud of the fact that he had visited all 50 states of the United States plus Canada, Mexico, and several countries in Europe. Most of all he loved dancing with his wife well into their 80’s to the tunes of the Big Bands.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Hardy Tom Walker, Sr., and his wife Virginia.

Survivors include his daughter, Kathryn Sprinkle and her husband, Kenneth, his son Larry Joe Walker, his step-grandson Tracy Sprinkle and his wife Christy, and his step-great grandsons Jonathan and Ethan Sprinkle. He is also survived by his very special friend and companion, Joyce Williford, as well as many friends.