C. WaylandWalker

C. Wayland Walker, age 91, passed away on September 24, 2012.  Services will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday at Highland Terrace Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Jordan officiating.  Interment will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park.  Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesday at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.

He was born on February 1, 1921 to Edward T. Walker and Belva Moser Walker in Tidwell, Hunt County, TX. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1940. He served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater of WWII. After the war, he completed his education, earning a B.S. in Animal Husbandry from Sam Houston State University. He married Joyce Ford on April 16, 1948 in Bogata, TX. He taught Vocational Agriculture in Wolfe City and Sadler and moved back to Greenville to work at Temco in 1954.  He started Walker Insurance Agency in 1956 and in 1959, he added real estate sales. Since the 1960s up until last week when he closed on his final deal, Wayland did land sales and development in and around Hunt County.

Wayland loved spending time with his family, friends, and church. He loved hunting, gardening, and doing anything outdoors.  He was loved by his family and everyone who knew him.  He never met a stranger. Everywhere he went he knew someone, and if he didn’t when he got there, he knew everyone by the time he left.  From his stories and laughter to his big smile and even bigger heart, Wayland will be deeply missed by all.

Wayland was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Joyce; his parents; brothers Sam, Clark, and Wayne; and sister Agnes Smithers. He is survived by his sisters Elaine Robinson of Greenville and Joyce Burket and husband Paul of Greeley, CO; sister-in-law Ann Ford of Paris, TX; daughter Janie Barnhardt and husband Charles of Greenville; son John Walker and wife Toni of Greenville; three granddaughters, Jennifer Newton and husband Adam of Houston, TX, Shannon Orosco and husband Henry of Austin, TX, and Stacey Oliver and husband Chase of Greenville; nieces DeAnna Davidson and husband Scott of Norman, OK and Jamie King, husband Jason, and daughter Chloe of Norman, OK; nephew James Brown of Dell City, OK; nieces Carmen Walker, Sue Heath, Madelyn Dalton, Donna Kay King; nephews Phil Burket, Charles Burket, and James Walker; and a host of friends.

 The family would like to say a special thank you to the staff at Legends for taking such good care of him for the past year. Memorials may be sent to Highland Terrace Baptist Church.