William Franklin Walker, 86, of Port Arthur, a beloved Husband, Daddy, Poppy and Brother-in-Christ, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, May 19, 2008. He left this world just as he lived, gently and peacefully. "Bill" was born on February 2, 1922 to Charles Henry Walker and Gladys Ruby Watts Walker in Fort Benning, Georgia. He attended Freed Hardeman College in Henderson, Tennessee on scholarship to become a Church of Christ Minister. His church leadership spanned 60 years including six mission trips to India and three mission trips to Nigeria. He touched the lives of many people and left this world a better place because of his guidance and love. He served as a full-time minister in churches in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana. He moved to Port Arthur in 1978 and preached at the Procter Street / Park Central Church of Christ for 17 years and the Westgate Church of Christ in Beaumont for 4 years. He continued to serve the community proudly as an honorary preacher on special occasions. His knowledge and desire to share God's word was not just his gift – it was his joy.
He leaves behind his wife and best friend of 30 years, Iva Walker and his "girl", his cherished daughter, Nicole Walker. He also leaves behind his son Greg Walker and his wife Gail and his son Doug Walker and his wife Brenda. He also has children that he loved by choice, his daughter Linda Blue and her husband Donnie; his daughter Teresa Kudrle and her husband Bill; his daughter Julie Lewis and her husband Kevin and his son Jack Hall and his wife Robin.
He also was the proud grandfather "Poppy" of Amanda Hall, Holly Blue, Jack Langley, Brian Langley, Kendra Langley, Natalie Lewis, Vanessa Schultz, Zach Watts Hall, Tiffany Hall, Jeremy Hall, Jon Walker, Robin Walker, Corry Walker and Kara Walker. He also has five great-grandchildren: Adair, Addison, Will, Jon and Olivia.
Officiating the ceremony will be Jay Keith and Brian French. Serving as pallbearers will be Don Smith, Devon Temple, Danny Mallet, Greg Guy, Chandler Walker, Chuck Reed, Don Laird and Jack Pierce. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Robert Bowling, Ray Knighton, Grady Preston, Charles Reed, Jim Snell, Bruce Powell and Sonny Gunn.
Visitation will be on Thursday, May 22, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Broussard's in Nederland, Texas. Funeral Services will be on Friday, May 23, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Park Central Church of Christ in Port Arthur, Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Park Central Church of Christ, 3901 Jimmy Johnson Blvd., Port Arthur, Texas 77642.