Silas Jones Walker, Jr., age 95, “crossed over” to be with the Lord Jesus Christ Thursday evening. He was a well-respected retired contractor who oversaw the building of schools, hospitals, universities and corporations.
Silas was born in Vandiver, Alabama, and helped raise peanuts on the family farm. When he was about 16, his father suffered a major heart attack, and Silas left high school to begin a career in construction. He completed his degree by studying at night. He successfully passed the bar to obtain his contractor’s license in several states: North and South Carolina and Florida. He also passed the real estate boards in North Carolina and in Florida, and built several rental homes in Greensboro and at Sunset Beach, S.C., for his family’s personal use and as an investment.
Silas was married for 64 years to Dorothy Howard Walker, who devoted herself to moving with him from job site to job site across the country. He worked many years as a Lead Superintendent for Algernon Blair Construction Company (based in Alabama) and rose quickly to be Executive Vice President there. His children fondly remember him studying countless hours every night to further his education. During that time, because his father was a cardiac invalid, he literally supported two families until his parents both died. This wonderful son to one family and father to another worked enormous hours to provide for all of them during the days of the Deep Depression and beyond. Silas was Executive Vice President of Coble Construction Company for many years and then became President of Romeo Guest Construction Company in Greensboro, where he remained until retirement at age 68. He became a partner in a venture to build an industrial park in Greensboro. He left a legacy of results-oriented work ethic and service to others to his family.
He always stayed in touch with extended family in Alabama, especially cousins. They visited often after he retired. He found ways to enrich his children’s lives everywhere they lived by making weekend trips with them to educate them on the local attractions and culture.
Silas moved from Litchfield Beach, S.C., and built a home in the Masonic Assisted Living Community in Greensboro several years ago. After his wife Dorothy died, his friendship with Barbara McKinney (widow to Doyle McKinney,) grew into love and they were married almost six years ago. Silas was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner. He worked tirelessly in retirement for Hospice. He raised award-winning tomatoes and shared them with neighbors. He fathered one son, Silas Jones Walker, III (wife, Joyce) of Loris, S.C.; and two daughters, Jacqueline Walker Ross (husband, Stephen) of Florida and Diann Walker Sellers (husband, Tom) of Charlotte. His surviving grandchildren are: Jeff & Amy Pritchett of Oak Ridge, N.C.; Alan & Bethany Pritchett of Winston-Salem; Justin & Dr. Kimberly Dial Sellers of Apex; Brian Sellers of Tampa, FL; Silas J & Stephanie Walker of Las Vegas; and Shannon Walker Brasher of Alabama, Joy & Dean Bocks of Florence, SC, Jody and Erica Muldrow of Effingham, SC. Great-grandchildren are Jacob and Caitlin Pritchett of Oak Ridge; Rand Brasher of Alabama, Tiffany, Brian and Tyler Bocks of Florence, SC, Anna and Emma Muldrow of Effingham, SC and numerous others. Silas felt very close to his children and grandchildren by marriage: Gloria M. Campbell and Ronald B. & Carolyn McKinney. Surviving grandchildren from the McKinney lineage are: Regina Reynolds, Michelle & Jarret Jones, Brooks Ann McKinney, Edward & Sarah McKinney. There are eight surviving great-grandchildren in the Barbara McKinney Walker family.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday the 26th at 1:00 p.m. at Pisgah United Methodist Church, 2600 Pisgah Church Rd., Greensboro, NC 27455 conducted by the Reverend Greg Light. Interment will follow at Guilford Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Tuesday at the church from 12:00 p.m. until service time. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations be made to either: ELP Scholarship Foundation, Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, NC 27405
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