Richard Rolland Walker

1948, on North Island, California, to Lt. Cmdr. Delmar Walker Jr., a WWII Navy pilot, and Margaret Ormi Walker, a career educator. Dick grew up on both coasts,

relocating to Virginia Beach in elementary school. He was a proud graduate of

Norfolk Academy (’66) and Virginia Military Institute (’70). After Dick was drafted

for the Vietnam War, he was sent to Undergraduate Pilot Training in Columbus,

Mississippi. Most importantly while in Mississippi, Dick met the love of his life,

Jane Evelyn Cox, a student at Mississippi University for Women, and they were

married in December 1971.

Dick, call sign “Stroker", flew F-4 Phantoms in Vietnam from 1975 to 1976. He

joined the Louisiana Air National Guard in 1979 and served in the 122nd Tactical

Fighter Squadron, US Naval Air Station, New Orleans, LA - affectionately known at

the time as the “Coonass Militia”. During his time there, he flew F-4s and F-15s.

In 1979, Dick began his commercial airline career at American Airlines where he

worked his way to Captain, Instructor Pilot and Check Airman. He introduced a

number of planes to the AA fleet, most recently the 777. After his retirement

from AA, Dick continued working for Boeing, training international pilots for the

787 Dreamliner, until he finally retired in 2017.

Dick was devoted to his family and was a beloved husband, father, grandfather,

sibling, uncle, and friend who touched the lives of many with his kindness, generosity, and lightning quick wit. While his kids attended Ravenscroft, Dick often

volunteered and attended as many sporting and school events as he could, even

cooking for the football and swimming teams. Dick excelled at celebrations and

greatly enjoyed hosting memorable events for graduations, holidays, weddings,

baby showers, birthdays, reunions, etc. He also was a voracious reader, avid

golfer, photographer, woodworker, and frequently traveled with his close friends

and family.

Dick is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Jane Cox Walker, his loving children, Jeff Walker (Megan) of Wake Forest, and daughter Jennifer Walker DeBaun

(Stephen) of Atlanta, GA, and his cherished granddaughters Grace Rolland and

Suzanne Belle DeBaun and Bridget Evelyn Walker, who will carry on his legacy of

love and laughter. He is also survived by his sister Cheryl Walker of Virginia Beach.

A Celebration of Life will be held in honor of Richard "Dick" Rolland Walker at The

Hasentree Club in Wake Forest on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 11 am to 2 pm.

All those whose lives were touched by him are welcome to attend and celebrate

his remarkable life.

Dick will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery on October 2, 2024 at 11:00 AM (arrive at 10:15 AM). After Dick’s burial on October 2, 2024, all of those attending are invited to join us at the Celebration of life luncheon--1200 to 2pm at:

Army Navy Country Club

1700 Army Navy Drive

Arlington, VA. 22202

POC: Ashley or Kelli @ 703-521-6800

Ext. 1220 or 1275

(Plenty of parking available)

Reception in:

Ft. Richardson Room on 3rd floor

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Triangle

Aphasia Project, Inspiration Golf or Transitions LifeCare Hospice, in memory of a

life well lived.

http://www.aphasiaproject.org

https://www.inspirationgolf.com

https://www.transitionslifecare.org