Obituary of Billy Joe Walker October 14, 1923 - October 2, 2024
Billy Joe Walker (known to family and friends as “Bill”) was born in Jasper, Texas on October 14, 1923 and died at Timberidge Nursing and Rehabilitation in Jasper, Texas on October 2, 2024.
Visitation with the family will be from 1:00 to 2:00 at Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home in Jasper, Texas on Saturday, October 5 followed by a funeral service beginning at 2:00 and internment thereafter at Sanders Cemetery.
Bill is survived by his wife of 80 years, Evelyn; his son J. Randall Walker and wife Denise M. Walker, of Jasper, Texas; his daughter Sandra M. Sanbote and husband Louis J. Sandbote, of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren Rachel A. Eisenstatts and husband Thomas Eisenstatts; Sam B. Sandbote, and Aaron W. Walker and wife Jewel E. Walker; and three great-grandchildren: Reagan, Taylor, and Grant Eisenstatts.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, James W. Walker and Rosa M. (Wigley) Walker; brothers James W. Walker, Jr., Dallas W. Walker, C. Paul Walker, and sister Katy L. Prasatik.
Bill graduated from Jasper High School in 1940 and joined the United States Navy in 1941. While serving on the USS Platte during World War II, he suffered a serious eye injury during the Battle of Midway and spent several months in the hospital. After being released back to active duty, he was assigned to the USS Chincoteague and set sail for the Santa Cruz Islands in the south pacific. While in that area the Chincoteague was heavily damaged and disabled by Japanese bombers. The Chincoteague was towed back to the United State for repairs and Bill was transferred to a naval station near Washington, D.C. While stationed in Washington, D.C., Bill was part of the honor guard on Pennsylvania Avenue for the funeral of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
By the latter part of 1944, Bill’s enlistment was up and he could have returned to civilian life but he chose to re-enlist for two more years in the Navy. After his re-enlistment, he was chosen to be part of the original crew of the newest aircraft carrier, the USS Midway. Bill served on the USS Midway until he was discharged in 1946.
In 1944 Bill married the love of his life, Evelyn Marie Byerly, and they began their married life in Washington, D.C. After being discharged from the Navy in 1946, Bill re-joined Evelyn who had returned to Jasper, Texas for the birth of their first child. Bill worked for a short time at Jones Building Materials in Jasper before beginning his career with Tenneco, Inc. in the natural gas pipeline transportation industry. Bill steadily worked his way up the company ladder from shift worker to company management positions. Bill retired from Tenneco in 1985 as a District Pipeline Superintendent.
Bill and Evelyn remained active during his retirement restoring old houses including their masterpiece at 311 North Main Street in Jasper which was their home for many years. Bill also enjoyed golf, deer hunting, the Dallas Cowboys, the Houston Astros, traveling, and playing cards–especially Bridge. There was also time for family, friends, and church. Bill was a deacon at First Baptist Church in Jasper for many years and served numerous callings in the church. Bill thoroughly enjoyed his retirement life and would sometime point out that his retirement from Tenneco was longer than his employment by Tenneco. Bill was truly “a man of many talents” and will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to have know him.
Schedule of Services
Visitation
Saturday, October 5, 2024
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Funeral Service
Saturday, October 5, 2024
2:00 PM
