Vernon Walker

GRAVESIDE SERVICE: SATURDAY, JULY 1, 201711:00 A.M. PINE GROVE CEMETERYVISITATION: SATURDAY, JULY 1, 201710:00 A.M. UNTIL SERVICE TIMEPINE GROVE BAPTIST CHURCHINTERMENT: PINE GROVE CEMETERYOFFICIATING: DR. RALPH ADCOCKREV. LIN CHESNEYVernon Walker, age 88, passed away on June 25, 2017 at Grand Brook Memory Care in McKinney, Texas.  He was the second son of Howard and Molly Walker and was born November 27, 1928 in Fostoria, Montgomery County, Texas.  He had one older brother, Herman Cecil Walker, who preceded Vernon in death, an older sister, Eloise Fitzgerald, and a younger brother, Joseph Clayton Walker.  He married Annie P. Winstead (daughter of Leslie and Essie Winstead – also of House, Mississippi) on August 6, 1951 at Pine Grove Baptist Church in House, Mississippi by Grady Adcock.  They had one son, Michael Wayne Walker, born on August 13, 1952 in Houston, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Ann Winstead-Walker; son, Michael Wayne Walker and his wife Dotty of Plano, Texas; one grandson, Charles Clinton Walker and his family, Whitney Walker and their two children, Delaney Walker and Remy Walker, Plano, Texas; and a granddaughter, Natalie Cay Walker, her husband Dennis Graham and their two children, Ethan Graham and Wyatt Winstead Graham.  He is also survived by Eloise Fitzgerald, sister; and Joseph Clayton  Walker, brother; and numerous nieces and nephews.Vernon grew up in Houston, Texas and attended Reagan High School.  After high school, he joined the Navy where he was honorably discharged.  After the Navy, Vernon joined the Houston Fire Department in 1950 and retired in 1970.  In 1971 Vernon, with two of his friends, started Foundation Steel and Wire, and they had branches in Waxahachie, TX, and Atlanta, GA.  Vernon retired from FS&W in 1993.  After retirement, he and his wife spent the ensuing years traveling and have visited 48 of the 50 states.  He was a 33rd degree Master Mason and a member of Reagan Lodge in Houston Texas, as well as Scottish Rite of Freemasonry – The Valley of Houston and the Arabia Shrine Temple.A visitation will be held at Pine Grove Baptist Church in House, Mississippi one hour prior to a graveside funeral.  Ministers attending are Dr. Ralph Adcock of Hot Springs, AR, and Rev. Lin Chesney of Union, Mississippi.The family requests in lieu of flowers a donation be made in his name to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 2222 Welborn St, Dallas, TX 75219.Pallbearers will be Clint Walker, Dennis Graham, Tim Chesney, Stacy Howington, Roger Whitlock and A. J. Chesney.