Mrs. Bobby Jo Walker's Obituary
Bobby Jo Walker (nee Sanford) passed into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, January 11 at 2 p.m. She was 97 years young. Here is her obituary (someone had to do it) – so, get an adult beverage first and be seated comfortably prior to reading this.
Bobby Josephine (‘Bobby Jo’) was born bald, with blue eyes and tea cup mouth in Ft Worth, Texas on September 14th of 1925. (For God’s sake do not forget her birthday whatever you do!) When her father, Lt Col R.W. Sanford (aka ‘Daddy Sandy’) became the Commanding Officer of the Stead Army Air Base in Reno, Nevada in 1944. Bobby Jo and her mother, Mildred Juanita Campbell Sanford (aka ‘Murr’), moved there to join him. Bobby Jo would meet her future handsome husband, Captain Joe Walker (just ‘Joe’ - a flight instructor), who was also stationed at the air base, and in August 1945 they returned to Texas to be married. Later they returned to the west coast as Captain Joe Walker was assigned to Stockton Air Force Base in California. Acting on a promise to her parents, Bobby Jo returned to University of Nevada - Reno (Pi Beta Phi) to complete her degree in Literary Sciences with a teaching certificate. During their 19 years of marriage, they travelled extensively, experienced wartime history, raised a family, saw America at its best, and while stationed in Florida, Bobby Jo received the honor and title of ‘Mrs Florida’ and was selected as a finalist in the ‘Mrs America’ contest in 1958. Her aluminum ballroom dress (from Alcoa) can be found at the Bauxite museum in Arkansas to this day. As a result of ‘Joe’s service in the air force, related to the atomic and hydrogen bomb tests in the 1950’s in the Pacific ocean (Marshall Islands, Enewetak Atoll, Bikini Island, etc.). Lt Col Joe Walker passed away from exposure on March 17th of 1965 (St Patrick’s Day) and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C.. Bobby Jo and the four children then moved from Mc Guire AFB New Jersey to Longview in the piney woods of East Texas, to be with her parents who had retired years earlier.
In 1975, Bobby Jo attended Southern Methodist University and received her master’s degree (focusing on Texas history) at age 50. She taught at St Mary’s Catholic School in Longview, Texas as a lay teacher for 14 years (adding to the years of previous teaching engagements where her husband was stationed). She was member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority (Adah Chapter, Reno), Order of the Eastern Star, PEO, Daughters of the King, and the Alter Guild of the Episcopal Church in Orlando, Fl. She loved reading, studying, writing, dancing, playing piano, and was a very talented artist. Also, she was an advocate for exercise and healthy living. She even knew and was friends with Margaret Nugent and ‘Bernie’ Tiede! She was not good at cooking and burned water on multiple occasions! No one was hurt, thank the Lord!
In August of 2015, just as she was in her ‘prime’ at age 90, and had moved from Longview to Austin to be closer to her youngest son and family, she suffered a stroke while Christmas shopping just 4 months after the move and was rendered disabled on her left side and moved from independent living to skilled nursing care. It was a huge blow, but she moved forward and braved the next 7 years with determination. She will be missed by her family, friends, organizations, and the Buckner Villa and Concho Hearts Hospice employees and communities. She loved talking with everyone and telling them stories.
She is survived by her very loud and raucous redneck family:
• Dr. Joe Walker (‘Chip’) (son) - Retired Professor of Economics – residing in Port Angeles, Wa and Birmingham, Al
o His 3 children (grand-children):
Joseph Walker (grandson) - Manager of Video Production with Motion Industries – residing in Birmingham, Al
• His wife: Veronika - Salon Owner of Concepcion
• Their children (great-grand-children): Sophie (20), Matt (17), and Sam (5)
• Great-Grand-dog: Charlie (Jack Russell-Brittany Spaniel Mix)
• Great-Grand-cats: Sara (Tortoise Shell) and Chloe (Tabby)
Jeffrey Walker (grandson) - President of Winsupply E Houston TX CO – residing in Friendswood, Tx
• His wife: Morgan Mashburn-Walker - Co-Owner of Winsupply
• Their child (great-grand-child): Whitten (3 mos)
• Great-Grand-dogs: Dak (Border Collie) and Nala (Pomeranian)
Joanna Walker (granddaughter) VP of Finance for ForeFlight – residing in Orlando, Fl
• Her fiancé: Dave Myeress - Project Manager with Jones Signs
• Great-Grand-dogs: Graham (Golden Retriever) and Monte (English Bulldog)
• Cynthia S Van Bavel (‘Cindy’) (daughter) - Retired Reno High School Guidance Counselor – residing in Virginia City, Nv
o Her life partner: Carl Hockett - Veteran - 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile), U.S. Army, III Corp, Vietnam (3/69-1/71),
plus Jack of many trades, master of none
o Grand-dog: Buddy (Havanese)
• Robert S Walker (‘Sandy’) (son) - Retired Salesman – residing in Carrollton, Tx
o His wife: Sherri Walker - Retired Commercial Property Manager
o His 3 children (grand-children)
Lt Col Adrian Watts (granddaughter) - US Army – Gurley, Al
• Her husband: Lt Col Chad Watts - US Army
• Their children (grandchildren): Jordan (20), Hunter (9), and Hadley (7)
• Great-Grand-dogs: Cookie and Bama (French Bulldogs)
Major Robert S Walker (grandson) - US Army - residing in Oxford, Al
• His wife: Sierra Walker - Registered Nurse
• Their children (great-grand-children) Kollyns (3) and Sonny (7 mos)
• Great-Grand-dogs: July (Pit Bull) and Bugs (Boston Terrier)
Elizabeth Mokler (granddaughter) - Teacher with Randolph School – residing in Woodville, Al
• Her husband: Jeremy Mokler - Professional Driver with Helena (a shipping company)
• Their children (Great-grand-children): Kyler (12) and Kinsley (10)
• Great-Grand-cat: Bear (Bombay)
• Embree H Walker (‘Embob’) (son) - Tired Engineering Program Manager for Dell – residing in Bryan, Tx
o His wife: Cheryl Walker - Very tired Staff Accountant for Velocity Electronics
o Their children (grandchildren)
Alli Ritchie (granddaughter) – Sort-of tired Executive Assistant, Austin Infiniti – residing in Pflugerville, Tx
• Her husband Craig Ritchie -Automotive Service Manager for Continental Collision Center
• Great-Grand-dogs: Eevee (Papillon) and Luna (Miniature American Eskimo Dog)
Alex Walker (grandson) Always tired Brewing Operations for Karbach Brewing – residing in Houston, Tx
• His husband: James Reed - Maintenance Supervisor for TxDOT Houston Maintenance Office
• Great-Grand-dog: Jack (Australian Shephard)
Amy Walker (granddaughter) - Extremely tired 3rd year student in Veterinary College at Texas A&M University – residing in College Station, Tx
• Great-Grand-dog: Dirk (Offspring of Alli’s dogs - Eevee and Luna)
• Great-Grand Guinea Pigs: Patricia (Peruvian Mix) and Patrovsky (Peruvian)
• Great-Grand-Skink: Teak (Pink Tongued Skink)
Funeral services will be held in the chapel at Rosewood Park Cemetery, Longview, Tx on Saturday, January 21st at 11:00 a.m. Check the website and internet maps for directions. The dress code is business casual plus, which is preferred at a minimum.
No flowers, plants, or donations are requested or needed. Those that knew her are welcome to attend, but no one is obligated to be there. We will celebrate her life and go make good compass changes in our own to rise to the challenge she leaves to all of us.
What you can do to pay this forward and to be merciful to your children, loved ones, and survivors are:
- Get any and all of your affairs in orders now (do not procrastinate!)
- Update any and all contacts (directories), financial, medical, legal, pictures, and family tree information into easy-to-access online and paperless information using secure technology
- Discuss, reduce/downsize, and designate property, inventory and heirlooms you will leave behind, but make sure you have a documented plan and all family member, designees, and anyone else involved knows it and accepts it (e.g. have the originator and lawyer explain it to everyone thoroughly)
- Make sure you have someone who agrees to be the power of attorney, medical power of attorney, legal guardian, and executor with a secondary who is mandated to be consulted and copied on any and all decisions
- Research, communication, organization, and timely planning is paramount. Don’t place the burden of chaos on those left behind.
Bobby Jo was an amazing person who had the intelligence, foresight, and ability to see this coming. She made solid plans and active decisions prior to her stroke in 2015 and prior to her passing.
She loved life, she is healed, and she is home now with her Lord and Savior Jesus. The Lord is Our Salvation!
What’s your fondest memory of Bobby?
What’s a lesson you learned from Bobby?
Share a story where Bobby's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Bobby you’ll never forget.
How did Bobby make you smile?
