Joel J. Walker

JJ transitioned on July 7, 2017. He had a full life filled with family, friends and colleagues who count themselves fortunate to have had him in their lives for so long. Joel Joseph Walker was born to Ezikiel and Delphenia Walker on September 28, 1935 in Trenton, New Jersey.

He appreciated being raised by a good mother and father and was happy to have attended Catholic school as a child. He was the first person in his family to own a car likely a result of his hard work and many jobs which he sought out and began in his late childhood. JJ was fortunate to have many experiences in his life including serving in the Air Force from 1956 to 1959 during the Korean War, working as a draftsman in the civil service as a young man and eventually having a long career at Lockheed Martin progressing from a draftsman to design engineer to an engineering supervisor all while mentoring new engineers. He retired after 35 years. During his tenure at Lockheed Martin he worked in Sunnyvale, CA, Austin Texas ending up in Cape Canaveral, Florida. One of his most cherished experiences was teaching pre-engineering classes in 3 different Junior colleges throughout his life. He also was proud of helping to start a club, The Ambassadors, to assist his community with creating scholarships for Jr. High and High School kids to stay in school and excel. Some stayed in contact with him many years later.

He was preceded in death by his son, Shawn Jeffery Walker and his son in law, Ruskin McEwen. He leaves behind his loving wife of 44 years, Cora Lee Walker; his daughters, Leslie Walker-Harding, Stephanie Walker McEwen, Shymyah Nicole York Walker, Cora Lee Willis, Carmelita Willis; son in law, Eldridge Harding and 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

A Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2017 from 3:00pm to 4:00pm at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, Merritt Island, FL with a Memorial Service to follow at 4:00pm.