Roy Joe Walker, 89, of Dunlap, Tennessee, died on Wednesday morning, September 30, 2015.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Lee Walker and Hattie Hale Walker; his "parents" who raised him in Pikeville, Thomas Harmon Hale and Crocia Swafford Hale; and his sweetheart and wife of almost 62 years, Sarah Jo Standefer Walker.
Roy Joe was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving in the South Pacific during World War II, and was a member of the American Legion Harvey-Merriman post #190. He was a 57-year member of Dunlap Lodge # 693 F. & A. M., a 32nd Degree K.C.C.H. Scottish Rite Mason in the Chattanooga Consistory, and a member of Alhambra Shrine. He was a member and Deacon Emeritus of Dunlap First Baptist Church. He was a member and past president of the former Sequatchie Valley Scottish Rite Club and served for many years as Chairman of the Club's "Shoe Fund" and the Patriotism Essay program for SCHS students. Roy Joe was also a retired funeral director.
He is survived by his and Sarah Jo's only child, Mike (Vicki Sowder) Walker, LaVergne, TN; grandchildren, Elizabeth and Christopher Walker, Dunlap, and Michaela Walker, LaVergne, TN; Summer Hartman and Skye Cunningham, of Dunlap, Sunni and Austin Jackson, of LaVergne, TN, and Dexter Robertson, Chattanooga; three great-grandchildren; special friends, Hollis and Patsy Pope, Jiggs and Louise Roberson, and their children; several nieces and nephews from the Walker and Hale families.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. CDT at Dunlap First Baptist Church with Dr. Fred Steelman officiating. Burial will be in Rankin Cemetery with full military honors, and a Masonic graveside service.
Online condolences can be made at www.reedfamilyfh.com.
The family would like to thank Dr. Karen Shepherd, and the staff at NHC-Dunlap for their love and kindness shown throughout his stay. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Dunlap First Baptist Church Building Fund, the Council of Churches Food Pantry of Dunlap, or to any Shriners' or Scottish Rite Hospitals. Arrangements by Standefer-Reed Funeral Home, where Roy Joe worked for 40 years, 50 May Road, Dunlap.
Family will receive friends on Saturday, from 12-8 p.m. CDT at the funeral home and Sunday from 1-2 p.m. CDT at Dunlap First Baptist Church.