Kenneth Ray "Doc" Walker, 75 of Shelby, North Carolina, passed away on June 3, 2023 surrounded by family and friends at Charles George VA Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina.
He was born on February 16, 1948 to Paul Walker and Vera Hoyle of Shelby, North Carolina. Ken graduated from Shelby High School in 1966. He was a Navy corpsman from 1966 to 1970 and served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 with Marines Delta 1-4. During his life, Ken worked at Cleveland Regional hospital as a cardiopulmonary technologist and then as an insurance agent for Liberty Life. Ken later returned to Cleveland Regional and worked there until retirement. After retirement, Ken opened Walker's Music in downtown Shelby, North Carolina. During his career, Ken also played in several musical bands: Time Machine, Redwing, Freeway South, Silvercreek, and Bell & Walker. Ken wrote a book called The Banyan Tree documenting his tour in Vietnam and also composed and wrote several original songs: The Battle of Kings Mountain, The Battle of Cam Lo, The Ballad of Alan Jones (which won the songwriting contest at the BroadRiver Greenway), Bonnie's Quilt (a tribute to his wife), Reflections ( a view of his tour in Vietnam), Israel, and many more. In 2021, Ken served as the Grand Marshall in the Shelby Veteran's Day Parade. Ken is survived by his wife, Bonnie Kay Walker; a daughter, Jacqueline Walker Page and her husband Timothy Page; son, Bryan Alden Walker; grandchildren- Jessica Daryl Peeler, Trey Peeler, and Michaela Abigail Walker; step grandchildren- Katherine McDaniel, Marie McDaniel, and Brittany Williams; two sisters- Christine Blanton and Barbara Beam; a brother, Jerry Walker; cousins- Tommy & Jo Walker, Dennis & Delores Owens, and Betty Jean Hudson; and life-long friends, Gary & Karen Bell. He was preceded in death by a brother- Jimmy Canipe. Ken loved his family, his church, and his country. He enjoyed building things, cooking, and gardening. The hearts of his surviving family members are broken; however, his heroism and legacy will live forever. All services will be held on Thursday, June 8 beginning at Beaver Dam Baptist Church, 123 Beaver Dam Church Road Shelby, NC. The family will receive friends at 10:00 am. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 am followed by a graveside service at St. Paul's Methodist Church, 2622 New Prospect Church Road Shelby, NC.
Funeral services are entrusted to Clay-Barnette Funeral Home & Aquamation Center.
www.claybarnette.com |
