News and Tribune

June 30, 2009

Tom D. Walker


Tom D. Walker, 72, formerly of New Albany

Memorial services for Tom D. Walker, 72, of Houston, formerly of New Albany, will be at 2 p.m. today, Tuesday, June 30, at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas. He died Saturday, June 27, 2009, with his family by his side.

He was born in New Albany, and graduated from Indiana University. He retired in 2004 after a long and distinguished career in the furniture business. But his proudest accomplishment by far has been raising a loving family of three girls and six granddaughters with his wife, Judy. He lived his life according to his motto: God first, then family and friends. He inspired many with his deep and abiding faith in Jesus. He, known to his granddaughters as “Pa and PaPa” will be deeply missed and loved as a husband, father, grandfather, friend and patriarch. We will forever miss his “hey babe” and the way he made everyone feel so special.

Survivors include his loving wife of 51 years, Judy Switzer Walker; daughters, Tammy Walker Smith and her husband, Scott, of Houston, Susan Walker McVicker and her husband, Dan, of Nashville, Tenn., and Julie Walker Henley and her husband, Jeff, of Tampa, Fla.; sister, Susanna Buchanan and her husband, Lee, of New Albany, along with their children Tom, Bruce and Kristine, and their families; granddaughters, Kelsey and Kirby Smith, Meryl and Morgan McVicker, Callie and Gracie Henley, for all of whom he was blessed to be their proud grandfather.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to his long time places of worship: West Isle Presbyterian Church, c/o Rev. Joe Hause, PO Box 3929, Galveston, Texas, 77554, or Memorial Drive United Methodist Church.

Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home of Houston is in charge of the arrangements.