Johnny Walker, 94, of Connersville, died peacefully in his sleep Tuesday morning, July 8, 2008, at Fayette Regional Health System where he had been admitted on Saturday.
He was born August 16, 1913 in Hazard, Kentucky to Rev. John and Margaret Baker Walker. On August 11, 1934, he was married by his father, Rev. John W. Walker, in Hazard to the former Winnie Stacy. Johnny was a U.S. Army veteran of WW II serving with the 29th Division in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. He delivered medicines to the front lines and was decorated with the EAME Theater Ribbon with four bronze stars.
He retired from Ford Motor Company, Connersville. For several years, Johnny and Winnie had owned and operated Johnny Walker Grocery on Waterloo Road in Connersville and in Raleigh, Rush County.
He was a 60-year member of the Warren Lodge #15, F.& A.M. and was widely known for his eloquent ability to lead memorial Masonic services from memory. He was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church. Johnny was an avid outdoorsman and annually went fishing in Alaska for three-weeks every year. His love of walking and hiking led him to hike the Jenny Wiley and Appalachian Trails. In his leisure, he enjoyed gardening and shopping for antiques.
Survivors include his wife of 74 years, Winnie of Connersville; three daughters and sons-in-law: JoAnne Long and Jerry, Margo Anderson and Myrl, all of Viera, Florida, Hedda Dixon and Lonnie of Connersville; a sister: Elizabeth Marie Deaton of Richmond who is the last surviving member of the pioneering family of Dr. Roderick R. Baker; seven grandchildren: Sarah Long, Cynthia Long, who has written a book titled "Johnny Walker: Memories of My Grandfather," Linda Winkler, Amy Cook, John Cook, Lori Shaw and Stacy Russell, eight great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Ann Kuhn, Kathy East, Jenna Stricker, Scott Winkler, Christopher Brittain, Garrett Russell, Collin Russell and Tori Shaw; several nieces and nephews.
His parents and four brothers, French, Asbel, Frank and Sherman Walker and an infant sister, Marguerite, preceded him in death.
Memorial Masonic services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday by Warren Lodge #15, F. & A.M. at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville followed by funeral services with Rev. Robert E. Lee officiating.
Interment will follow in Lick Creek Cemetery with military honors provided by the Fayette County Veterans Council. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 12 noon until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made at the funeral home to the charity of the donor's choice. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.
He was born August 16, 1913 in Hazard, Kentucky to Rev. John and Margaret Baker Walker. On August 11, 1934, he was married by his father, Rev. John W. Walker, in Hazard to the former Winnie Stacy. Johnny was a U.S. Army veteran of WW II serving with the 29th Division in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. He delivered medicines to the front lines and was decorated with the EAME Theater Ribbon with four bronze stars.
He retired from Ford Motor Company, Connersville. For several years, Johnny and Winnie had owned and operated Johnny Walker Grocery on Waterloo Road in Connersville and in Raleigh, Rush County.
He was a 60-year member of the Warren Lodge #15, F.& A.M. and was widely known for his eloquent ability to lead memorial Masonic services from memory. He was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church. Johnny was an avid outdoorsman and annually went fishing in Alaska for three-weeks every year. His love of walking and hiking led him to hike the Jenny Wiley and Appalachian Trails. In his leisure, he enjoyed gardening and shopping for antiques.
Survivors include his wife of 74 years, Winnie of Connersville; three daughters and sons-in-law: JoAnne Long and Jerry, Margo Anderson and Myrl, all of Viera, Florida, Hedda Dixon and Lonnie of Connersville; a sister: Elizabeth Marie Deaton of Richmond who is the last surviving member of the pioneering family of Dr. Roderick R. Baker; seven grandchildren: Sarah Long, Cynthia Long, who has written a book titled "Johnny Walker: Memories of My Grandfather," Linda Winkler, Amy Cook, John Cook, Lori Shaw and Stacy Russell, eight great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Ann Kuhn, Kathy East, Jenna Stricker, Scott Winkler, Christopher Brittain, Garrett Russell, Collin Russell and Tori Shaw; several nieces and nephews.
His parents and four brothers, French, Asbel, Frank and Sherman Walker and an infant sister, Marguerite, preceded him in death.
Memorial Masonic services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday by Warren Lodge #15, F. & A.M. at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville followed by funeral services with Rev. Robert E. Lee officiating.
Interment will follow in Lick Creek Cemetery with military honors provided by the Fayette County Veterans Council. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 12 noon until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made at the funeral home to the charity of the donor's choice. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.
Johnny Walker, 94, of Connersville, died peacefully in his sleep Tuesday morning, July 8, 2008, at Fayette Regional Health System where he had been admitted on Saturday.
He was born August 16, 1913 in Hazard, Kentucky to Rev. John and Margaret Baker Walker. On August 11, 1934, he was married by his father, Rev. John W. Walker, in Hazard to the former Winnie Stacy. Johnny was a U.S. Army veteran of WW II serving with the 29th Division in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. He delivered medicines to the front lines and was decorated with the EAME Theater Ribbon with four bronze stars.
He retired from Ford Motor Company, Connersville. For several years, Johnny and Winnie had owned and operated Johnny Walker Grocery on Waterloo Road in Connersville and in Raleigh, Rush County.
He was a 60-year member of the Warren Lodge #15, F.& A.M. and was widely known for his eloquent ability to lead memorial Masonic services from memory. He was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church. Johnny was an avid outdoorsman and annually went fishing in Alaska for three-weeks every year. His love of walking and hiking led him to hike the Jenny Wiley and Appalachian Trails. In his leisure, he enjoyed gardening and shopping for antiques.
Survivors include his wife of 74 years, Winnie of Connersville; three daughters and sons-in-law: JoAnne Long and Jerry, Margo Anderson and Myrl, all of Viera, Florida, Hedda Dixon and Lonnie of Connersville; a sister: Elizabeth Marie Deaton of Richmond who is the last surviving member of the pioneering family of Dr. Roderick R. Baker; seven grandchildren: Sarah Long, Cynthia Long, who has written a book titled "Johnny Walker: Memories of My Grandfather," Linda Winkler, Amy Cook, John Cook, Lori Shaw and Stacy Russell, eight great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Ann Kuhn, Kathy East, Jenna Stricker, Scott Winkler, Christopher Brittain, Garrett Russell, Collin Russell and Tori Shaw; several nieces and nephews.
His parents and four brothers, French, Asbel, Frank and Sherman Walker and an infant sister, Marguerite, preceded him in death.
Memorial Masonic services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday by Warren Lodge #15, F. & A.M. at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville followed by funeral services with Rev. Robert E. Lee officiating.
Interment will follow in Lick Creek Cemetery with military honors provided by the Fayette County Veterans Council. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 12 noon until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made at the funeral home to the charity of the donor's choice. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.
He was born August 16, 1913 in Hazard, Kentucky to Rev. John and Margaret Baker Walker. On August 11, 1934, he was married by his father, Rev. John W. Walker, in Hazard to the former Winnie Stacy. Johnny was a U.S. Army veteran of WW II serving with the 29th Division in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. He delivered medicines to the front lines and was decorated with the EAME Theater Ribbon with four bronze stars.
He retired from Ford Motor Company, Connersville. For several years, Johnny and Winnie had owned and operated Johnny Walker Grocery on Waterloo Road in Connersville and in Raleigh, Rush County.
He was a 60-year member of the Warren Lodge #15, F.& A.M. and was widely known for his eloquent ability to lead memorial Masonic services from memory. He was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church. Johnny was an avid outdoorsman and annually went fishing in Alaska for three-weeks every year. His love of walking and hiking led him to hike the Jenny Wiley and Appalachian Trails. In his leisure, he enjoyed gardening and shopping for antiques.
Survivors include his wife of 74 years, Winnie of Connersville; three daughters and sons-in-law: JoAnne Long and Jerry, Margo Anderson and Myrl, all of Viera, Florida, Hedda Dixon and Lonnie of Connersville; a sister: Elizabeth Marie Deaton of Richmond who is the last surviving member of the pioneering family of Dr. Roderick R. Baker; seven grandchildren: Sarah Long, Cynthia Long, who has written a book titled "Johnny Walker: Memories of My Grandfather," Linda Winkler, Amy Cook, John Cook, Lori Shaw and Stacy Russell, eight great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Ann Kuhn, Kathy East, Jenna Stricker, Scott Winkler, Christopher Brittain, Garrett Russell, Collin Russell and Tori Shaw; several nieces and nephews.
His parents and four brothers, French, Asbel, Frank and Sherman Walker and an infant sister, Marguerite, preceded him in death.
Memorial Masonic services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday by Warren Lodge #15, F. & A.M. at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville followed by funeral services with Rev. Robert E. Lee officiating.
Interment will follow in Lick Creek Cemetery with military honors provided by the Fayette County Veterans Council. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 12 noon until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made at the funeral home to the charity of the donor's choice. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.
