Obituary of William E. Walker

                                                                 William E. “Bill” Walker

In the early morning of Friday, December 14 ,2018, William E. Walker, “Bill”, 92, received a call from his Lord and Savior to join him for a reunion with his loved ones in the splendors of heaven. Bill prepared for this day by living his life with dignity and with moral compass that would become his personal trademark. He was a wonderful father, husband, and friend to many. Bill departed his earthly life quickly, with little fanfare. He was, like always, prepared.

Bill was born to Everett D. and Jeanette F. Walker in Erie, PA and has been a lifelong resident of Erie. In 1951, Bill married the beloved Janet Blackmore Walker, who predeceased him in 1993 after 42 years of a wonderful marriage.  

Bill graduated from Strong Vincent High School, Allegheny College, where he was President of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, and the New York University Graduate School of Business. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps – USNR, and in the US Army (Korea). He was the Owner of Erie Burial Case Company and the developer of EBCO Park, Erie’s first light industrial park. He also developed numerous other office and residential properties throughout Erie. Proud of his   grandfather’s branding of “Walker Quality,” Bill constantly strived to maintain a business practice of trust, integrity and value earning him respect from business associates and his tenants. 

During Bill’s lifetime, he was President of The City Mission and the Manufacturer’s Association of Erie. He served on the Board of Directors of Union Bank, the Boy’s Club of Erie, Advisory Board of Mellon Bank, Trustee of the Greater Erie YMCA, and as a Corporator of Hamot and St. Vincent Hospitals. Bill was a dedicated Rotarian and member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). He coined and copyrighted the word “Erie-sistible” naming a business outing of YPO executives who were gathering in Erie. His sailboat of the same name earned national attention when featured in Yachting magazine.  His play on words became known as “Walker-isms”.  Bill’s love for the Word of God and his concern for young people led him to be involved with the Gideons as Memorial Bible Chairman. He was Co-founder of Bible Ambassadors Church in Erie where he was deeply involved in the study of the Bible.

Since his youth, Bill was an avid sailor and member at the Erie Yacht Club, founding and mastering a number of different classes of sail boats. His love of championship sailing and yachting resulted in him becoming the youngest-ever Commodore of the Erie Yacht Club in 1958. He served as the longest tenured Past Commodore in the Club’s history. As a boater, he logged many miles traveling with his two sons from Pittsburgh to New Orleans via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and later he and Janet twice did “the Great Loop,” circling from the Great Lakes to South Florida and the Bahamas and then back up the east coast.

Land based, Bill and Janet travelled in 1963 around the world visiting 22 different countries. Later in life he often travelled to exotic places with his daughters.  Bill stayed active throughout his life enjoying skiing, road rallying, squash, tennis, roller skating, water skiing, ping pong and billiards. He was a pilot, chess player, photographer, and avid reader. He liked discussing politics and economics.  He was a gadget junkie.

For 20 years, Bill and Janet lived part of the year in Hilton Head, SC, pursuing their passion for golf. Later The Villages in Florida became the winter retreat.  Bill was universally well-known for his vast collection of golf learning aids, books, tapes, and CDs. He even travelled to Scotland to meet author Mindy Blake whom he felt had the answer to the hidden secret that would miraculously transform him into a “birdie” machine. He never discovered this elusive secret, but it did not deter him from playing golf right up until the end. For the record, he had 1 hole-in-one, and described his golf handicap as “not keeping his head down.”

Bill is survived by two sons; Everett D. and his wife, Susan, of Erie, and Todd F. and his wife, Kimlyn, of Tampa, FL; and two daughters; Bryn W. Perkins and her husband, Andrew, of Shelburne, VT; and Jana Walker Spano and her husband, Daniel, of South Lake Tahoe, CA; five grandchildren: Jordan and Halle Walker, Skyler and Haley Perkins, and Cole Walker; his brother, Robert D. Walker ( Gloria) of Erie; many nieces and nephews; his constant and loving companion of 24 years, Karen Zurn; and longtime employee and devoted friend, Carmen McCall.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Robin Louise; one brother, Dr. James D. Walker of Erie; and two sisters, Harriett “Cherry” Caserta of Miami, FL, and Jane Fryling of Charlotte, NC.

The Walker family would like to extend a special thank you to Rita Bauschard for her many years of Christian fellowship and service to Bill.  Thank you also to Patricia North and Kathy Eighmy for making Bill’s recent years fun, easy, and comfortable.

Visitation will be held from 10-12 am on Friday, December 21^st at Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd, Erie, followed by a memorial service starting at 12 noon. Private entombment with military honors at Laurel Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, consider a random act of kindness for someone who needs a helping hand, or a donation to the Erie City Mission/New Life Center, 1017 French Street, Erie, PA 16501. It’s what Bill would have wanted.