John Walker Newport, Arkansas Obituary

John Walker

Mr. John David Walker, Jr. of the Hickory Grove Community departed this life at his home on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at the age of 65. He was born March 8, 1948, in Newport the oldest child of J.D. Walker, Sr. and Marjorie (Davenport) Walker. John was a 1967 graduate of Tuckerman High School. After high school he attended college at Southern Baptist College in Walnut Ridge and Arkansas State College in Jonesboro. On September 4, 1971, Miss Linda Hunter and Mr. John David Walker, Jr. were married. They made their home in Hickory Grove. In 1972, John’s father took he and his brother, Richard, helped them get a loan and the brothers began farming as John and Richard Walker Farms. Although the operation grew and name changed, the heart of the business remained the same, two brothers enjoying hard work and providing for their families together. Known to most as John or “Big John,” this quiet, gentle man will most be remembered for his great love of family. He treasured his relationship with his parents and brother, he faithfully loved his wife, Linda, for over 41 years, and his greatest joy and love were his 2 children and 4 grandchildren. John was interested in and enjoyed keeping up with current events. He especially liked keeping a close eye on his DTN which allowed him to keep up with the commodity markets and be informed about what was going on in the world outside his own. “Big John’s” world by day was farming and anyone who knew him, knew that his love day and night was his family. Through the years, John enjoyed horses and gardening. His Christian faith was evident by the way he conducted business, treated his many friends, and loved his family. John was preceded in death by his parents, J.D. Walker, Sr. and Marjorie (Davenport) Walker, an infant sister, and his father in law, Herman Hunter and mother-in-law, Dora (Whitley) Hunter. He is survived by his wife, Linda (Hunter) Walker, of the home, one son, John David Walker, III, and wife, Mandy, of Swifton, one daughter, Laura Ann King and husband, Greg, of Hickory Grove, four grandchildren, Madison Walker, Elizabeth Walker, Jesse King, and Jake King; one brother, Richard Lynn Walker and wife, Beth, of Hickory Grove. Also surviving is one aunt, Jean Roberts, several nieces and nephews, Rob Walker, Becky Walker, Beverly Haggard, and Ashley Redd and a host of other family members, and a lifetime of friends. Friends may visit at the funeral home Thursday, 5:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services are 2:00 p.m. Friday at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. David Burgess officiating. Interment will follow in Dowell’s Chapel Cemetery. Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Wayne Freeman, Don Roberts, Rickey Hembrey, Millard Eddington, Tim Burzynski, and Jerry Burgess. Honorary pallbearers are Thomas Franks, John Cheshier, Ray Clark, Johnny Arter, Jared Haggard, Austin Ford, Miriam (Hunter) Moore, Tommy Davenport, and Don Shelton.
March 8, 1948 - May 15, 201303/08/194805/15/2013
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Obituary

Mr. John David Walker, Jr. of the Hickory Grove Community departed this life at his home on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at the age of 65. He was born March 8, 1948, in Newport the oldest child of J.D. Walker, Sr. and Marjorie (Davenport) Walker. John was a 1967 graduate of Tuckerman High School. After high school he attended college at Southern Baptist College in Walnut Ridge and Arkansas State College in Jonesboro. On September 4, 1971, Miss Linda Hunter and Mr. John David Walker, Jr. were married. They made their home in Hickory Grove. In 1972, John’s father took he and his brother, Richard, helped them get a loan and the brothers began farming as John and Richard Walker Farms. Although the operation grew and name changed, the heart of the business remained the same, two brothers enjoying hard work and providing for their families together. Known to most as John or “Big John,” this quiet, gentle man will most be remembered for his great love of family. He treasured his relationship with his parents and brother, he faithfully loved his wife, Linda, for over 41 years, and his greatest joy and love were his 2 children and 4 grandchildren. John was interested in and enjoyed keeping up with current events. He especially liked keeping a close eye on his DTN which allowed him to keep up with the commodity markets and be informed about what was going on in the world outside his own. “Big John’s” world by day was farming and anyone who knew him, knew that his love day and night was his family. Through the years, John enjoyed horses and gardening. His Christian faith was evident by the way he conducted business, treated his many friends, and loved his family. John was preceded in death by his parents, J.D. Walker, Sr. and Marjorie (Davenport) Walker, an infant sister, and his father in law, Herman Hunter and mother-in-law, Dora (Whitley) Hunter. He is survived by his wife, Linda (Hunter) Walker, of the home, one son, John David Walker, III, and wife, Mandy, of Swifton, one daughter, Laura Ann King and husband, Greg, of Hickory Grove, four grandchildren, Madison Walker, Elizabeth Walker, Jesse King, and Jake King; one brother, Richard Lynn Walker and wife, Beth, of Hickory Grove. Also surviving is one aunt, Jean Roberts, several nieces and nephews, Rob Walker, Becky Walker, Beverly Haggard, and Ashley Redd and a host of other family members, and a lifetime of friends. Friends may visit at the funeral home Thursday, 5:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services are 2:00 p.m. Friday at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. David Burgess officiating. Interment will follow in Dowell’s Chapel Cemetery. Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Wayne Freeman, Don Roberts, Rickey Hembrey, Millard Eddington, Tim Burzynski, and Jerry Burgess. Honorary pallbearers are Thomas Franks, John Cheshier, Ray Clark, Johnny Arter, Jared Haggard, Austin Ford, Miriam (Hunter) Moore, Tommy Davenport, and Don Shelton.

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Events

May
16
Visitation
Thursday, May 16 2013
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Jackson's Newport Funeral Home
1900 Malcolm Avenue
NEWPORT, AR 72112
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May
17
Service
Friday, May 17 2013
02:00 PM
Jackson's Newport Funeral Home
1900 Malcolm Avenue
NEWPORT, AR 72112
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail