Kenneth Joseph Walker

Kenneth J. Walker Memorial services for Kenneth Joseph Walker, 58, of Longview will be 2 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2007, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Longview, with the Rev. Kevin Wittmayer officiating under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. Dispersion of ashes will follow at All Saints Garden at Trinity Episcopal Church. Masonic rites also will be administered. Mr. Walker died early Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at his home. He was born November 20, 1948, in San Antonio and had lived in Longview since 1976. A 1967 graduate of Ball High School in Galveston, Mr. Walker received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1972. In 1975, he earned a doctor of jurisprudence degree from South Texas College of Law and was licensed to practice law by the State Bar of Texas in May 1975. He served as a Gregg County assistant district attorney in 1976, and then entered private law practice. In 1990, Mr. Walker was elected Gregg County judge and served in that capacity from 1991 through 1994. As county judge, Mr. Walker computerized Gregg County?s budget for the first time. Assuming the helm during challenging financial times, he cut more than $2 million out of his first budget. He also initiated multi-year financial planning, to address the long-term needs of Gregg County. In only his second year in office, Mr. Walker was elected president of the Texas County Budget Officer Association. Mr. Walker believed in giving to his community and volunteered in numerous capacities. He was a member of the board of directors of the Gregg County Bar Association and a past officer. He also was a member of the board of directors for the East Texas Area Council of Boy Scouts, Junior Achievement, Great Texas Balloon Race and Gregg County Civil Defense and was a past director of Gregg County Crime Stoppers. Mr. Walker was chairman of the East Texas Council of Governments? JTPA board of directors and was past chairman of the Longview Planning and Zoning Commission. He was chairman of the Gregg County Juvenile Crime Task Force, past chairman of the Gregg County Juvenile board of directors and served as a judge for Longview Teen Court. Honors Mr. Walker received in recent years include the Gregg County Pro Bono Project?s Outstanding Contribution Recipient in 2000 and Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney in 2001 and the American Legion?s Certificate of Appreciation in 1994. Mr. Walker was a Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Texas, No. 404 in Longview, a member of the Gregg County Scottish Rite Club, a member of the Sharon Shriners of Tyler, and a member of Greggton Rotary Club. As a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, he had served as vestry member, stewardship chairman, lay reader and usher. Mr. Walker was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Joe A. Walker. Survivors include his wife, Carol Gillies Walker, of Longview; his mother, Gwendolyn Gage of Lubbock; one son, Lance of Boulder, Colo.; three daughters and sons-in-law, Renee and Mark Wyche of Longview, Laura and David Starett of Houston, and Julie and Matt Branch of Waco; one stepson and daughter-in-law, Carl and Janey Ammar of Warner Robins, Ga.; one sister and brother-in-law, Kay and Tommy Carr of Wortham; one brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Tracey Walker of Friendswood; five grandchildren, Lacey, Thomas, Taylor, Alyssa and Madelynn; and an aunt, Jewell Robertson of Longview. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 25, 2007, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity, or the Longview Masonic Lodge Library & Museum Fund, 436 N Center Street, Longview, Texas, 75601, or the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 190567, Dallas, Texas, 75219-0567.

Kenneth Joseph Walker

November 20, 1948 - March 21, 2007