Cloudy, 32° F
(March 1, 1927 - Dec. 23, 2014)
Carl Allen Walker, 87, died peacefully at his home in Cody on Dec. 23, 2014. Carl was born March 1, 1927, in Delray Beach, Fla., to Alva and Mary Walker.
Carl graduated from high school and joined the Army in 1945, serving honorably through the aftermath of World War II. He singlehandedly started the Little League Baseball program in Delray Beach and coached for many years thereafter. He moved to Fort Myers, Fla., with his family in 1958, where he was hired to manage a local lumber company.
In 1962, Carl partnered with his office manager, Betty Wilson, to form their own lumber company in Fort Myers, Walker Builder’s Supply. The company became highly successful throughout Southwest Florida.
Carl was deeply spiritual and heavily involved in church leadership all his life. He was instrumental in the formation of the divorce recovery and bereavement counseling ministries at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers, and served as a leader of those ministries for many years.
Carl and Betty were married in 1971 and continued to raise his three sons from a previous marriage, along with Betty’s son, Dale.
In 1986, they sold their business and retired. Carl loved the West and was an avid photographer. They eventually relocated to Cody in 1999. Carl was a member of Cody Church of the Nazarene and, later, Yellowstone Baptist Church.
Carl was a man of great humility, dignity, grace and compassion. He was a peerless father and husband. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends for whom he set a nearly insurmountable bar for life well-lived, and in whom carry his indelible mark of Godly character.
Carl is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jack Donovan Walker; his son, Jack Bennett Walker; his grandson, Jason Fullon; and niece, Marilyn Morgan.
He is survived by his soul mate and wife of 43 years, Betty Walker; sons, Thomas (Kathy) Walker, Richard (Angie) Walker, and Dale Fullon; grandchildren, Jessica (Curtis) Love, Jonathan (Shawna) Fullon, Coleman and Bennett Walker, Sidney and Griffin Walker; and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers, Fla., with graveside at Memorial Gardens in Fort Myers.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Caleb’s Crusade. Donations can be made on their website, www.calebscrusade.com, or mailed to P.O Box 60017, Ft Myers, FL, 33906.
