Dr. Larry Walker

Larry Leon Walker, MD, 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 16, 2021. Dr. Walker was born on July 19, 1940 in Dalby Springs, Texas to parents Enois and Leon Walker, who were school teachers and farmers. Dr. Walker graduated from DeKalb High School, and was the eldest of three siblings. Dr. Walker graduated from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas in 1962 where he received his Bachelors of Science in Biology and was the president of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He attended and graduated from medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in 1966. During his medical education, he completed a medical rotating internship between 1965 and 1966 at Ben Taub County Hospital and he joined the Army. He served in the Vietnam War from 1969-1970 as a Captain of the Bravo Company Medical Battalion. During his service, he was a Brigade Surgeon and was awarded the Bronze Star for his distinguished service as well as the Army Commendation Medal. Upon being honorably discharged, he completed his surgical residency rotation with the Baylor College of Medicine at Ben Taub Hospital, Methodist Hospital, Veterans Hospital, MD Anderson, and Jefferson Davis Hospital, where he was the Chief Surgical Resident and who trained under some of America’s most notable surgeons, including Michael DeBakey, MD, George Jordan, MD, and Paul Jordan, MD.

In 1973, Dr. Walker moved his family to Nacogdoches, Texas to start his private surgical practice where he worked and treated patients at the Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital as a general and trauma surgeon for 44 years. Dr. Walker served on the board of directors of the Nacogdoches County Hospital District from 1998 - 2016, and after his retirement in July 2017, the Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital dedicated the new surgery center in his name. Dr. Walker served on the boards of the Samaritan Center, the East Texas Treatment Center, Friends of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches County Hospital District, and Texas A&M University at Commerce. He performed the first open chest surgery at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital in 1973. Dr. Walker organized the first Chemotherapy Department at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital, helped to get organize the East Texas Community Health Clinic, served as the Hospice Director for Memorial Hospital and the Hospice of East Texas for many years. He was recognized as the Texas A&M University at Commerce Outstanding Alumnus in 2012. Dr. Walker was a lifelong member of the Texas Surgical Society.

Dr. Walker was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a faithful and devoted elder and member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church USA where he sang with the choir for more than 44 years. He was devoted to serving his beloved patients and his community. As Lisa King beautifully expressed, “Dr. Walker definitely broke the mold and there will never be another with the work ethic, love of life, love of family and love for others that he lived every day.”

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Diana J. Walker, brothers Luke Walker of Wake Village, Texas and Howard Walker, New Waverly, Texas, children Andrew of Nacogdoches, Craig of Greenville, South Carolina, and Kevin of Trinidad, Colorado, daughter-in-law Bianca Walker of Greenville, South Carolina, and grandchildren Sophia Walker of San Marcos, Texas, Liam Walker of Greenville, South Carolina, Logan Walker of Georgetown, Texas, and Sylvia Walker of Greenville, South Carolina. It is important to recognize that he is additionally survived by his faithful nurse, Lynnae Perdue, of 38 years.

A service to celebrate his life will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church January 7, 2022, at 11:00am with Reverend Kallie Pitcock officiating. We at Westminster Presbyterian Church choose to mask indoors. If you do not have a mask on will be provided for you.

Those friends that are unable to attend the service may join the livestream of the service from www.facebook.com/WestPreschurch

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Special Music Fund at the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 903 North St., 75961, or Love Inc. at PO Box 630423, 75963.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.casonmonk-metcalf.com for the Walker family.