Emil Paul Walke Jr

With great sadness, his family announces the death of Emil Paul (E.P)Walke, Jr. (Major, USAF Retired), who died July 17, 2012 in Midwest City, Oklahoma.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil Paul Walke, Sr. and Louise Westinghouse Walke of Friendship, Maryland, and his youngest son, Brian Jay Walke of Norman, Oklahoma. An older brother (Edward) and older sister (Catherine) died in childhood. E.P. is survived by his wife, Joyce, sons Greg and Geary, daughters-in-law Pat, Barbara and Melody, grandchildren Justin, Adam (and wife Nohemi), Collin (and wife Lori), Devon and Maliah and great granddaughter Salynn Marie as well as his sisters Mary Kittel, Dorothy Kostanecki and Lorraine Taylor, and brother Henry (Hank) Walke and wife Willie, all of Maryland. E.P. was born in Baltimore, Maryland September 16, 1925 and grew up in Friendship, Maryland.

His career began with a fascination with flying, which led him to join the US Signal Corps and then the Army Air Corps, first as a navigator and then as a pilot. E.P. flew in the Air Rescue Service in Newfoundland and the north Atlantic, Colorado, California and Turkey. In retirement, E.P. maintained an active participation in the Air Rescue Association. A stint with the USAF Strategic Air Command took him to Vandenberg AFB, California where he served as the Base Operations Officer and was once named USAF Pilot of the Month.

E.P. married Joyce Marie Proctor in Waco, Texas April 24, 1946, and together they raised their three sons, traveling all over the world with the Air Force. After retirement from the Air Force, E.P. worked for many years as a private pilot and flew his own plane, a Cessna 210 he called the “Brown Bomber.”

In retirement, he enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who called him “Grumps,” and the company of his beloved wife, Joyce.

Funeral service wil be 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 20, 2012 at Bill Eisenhour Southeast Chapel in Del City, with visitation Thursday 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.. You may leave your condolences at www.eisenhourfuneral.com