Obituaries

Gene Harrison Walker

Photo of Gene Harrison Walker
Gene Harrison Walker died November 1, 2016. Gene was born to Harry and Hazel McRell Walker on April 22, 1937. Upon graduation from Bentonville High School, Gene, along with some friends left to serve in the United States military. Gene spent those service years in the Navy aboard the USS Ticonderoga aircraft carrier. Previously, he served in the Army National Guard. After an honorable discharge, Gene was in the employment of Kraft Cheese in Bentonville, Ark. for five years before taking a job at Jones Truck Lines in Springdale, Ark. He remained at JTL until the day the doors closed in 1991. Falling forty five days short of retirement, Gene worked the next six years for different companies chasing those forty five days. Doing so, in 1997, he retired from Roadway. Gene was a Man's Man. He was fond of his friends, food, dancing, and reminiscing about the good old days. Gene was a dedicated family man. He loved this country, had strong political opinions, and his last outing was to the voting booth, three days prior to his passing. Gene was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Marilyn Coffelt and Kathleen Weatherly. Survivors are his wife Virginia Yancey Walker; children, Kelli Walker Belts (Scott), Michael Walker (Fauziah), Penny Bowen Wright, Cherry Bowen Long (Jerry), Yancey Bowen (Ginger); eight grandchildren, Blake, Dalton, Brook, Drake, Paul Blake, Chloe, Sophie, and Madelyn; and three great grandchildren, Destiny, Holden, and Ziga. Services honoring Gene will be at Westfield Chapel Funeral Home in Springdale. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 5, 2016 followed by the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Interment will be at Friendship Cemetery with military honors. Pallbearers are Jerry Long, Scott Belts, Blake Wright, Dalton Hill, Drake Walker, Paul Blake Belts; honorary pallbearers are Charles Duncan, Michael J. Wright. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Published November 3, 2016

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