Bennie Joe Walker

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. Services will take place at 11 a.m. Monday at the mortuary. Interment will follow at Orchard Mesa Cemetery.

Mr. Walker was a minister.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara; two sons, Geoff Walker of Grand Junction, and Keith Walker of Las Vegas, Nevada; one daughter, Stephanie Logback of San Antonio, Texas; and nine grandchildren.

Memorial contributions to the missions ministry at Valley Church, 2940 I-70 Business Loop, Grand Junction 81504.

Ben J. Walker

January 12, 1935 – January 25, 2016

Ben J. Walker of Grand Junction, CO, passed away Monday, January 25, 2016, at La Villa Grande Care Center. Ben was born in Taylor, Texas, to Bennett and Elsie Langston Walker. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Barbara; sons, Geoffrey (Lora) of Grand Junction, CO, and Keith (Lynn) of Las Vegas, NV; and daughter, Stephanie (Tal) of San Antonio, TX. Ben was a proud grandfather of nine—Ben, Sam, and Grace of Grand Junction; Quinten, Cory, and Brady of San Antonio, TX; and Edie, Elliot, and Phin of Las Vegas, NV. He was preceded in death by his brother, Harold Walker.

His personal testimony in his own words, “I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home. Because of the influence of godly parents, I accepted Christ as my Savior at the age of nine and later reaffirmed my decision at the age of 15. While preparing myself to enter college as a pre-law Student, God touched my life again, this time calling me into pastoral ministry. My four years at Hardin Simmons University were preparatory for entering Southwestern Baptist Seminary where I met my wife, Barbara, while both of us were students”.

Soon after his marriage to Barbara, Ben was called as student pastor to Tuxedo Baptist Church in Stamford, Texas. This was the beginning of a long and fruitful pastoral ministry, spanning five decades, serving nine churches in Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, and Texas. When he retired in 2010, Ben was serving as Senior Adult Minister at First Baptist Church Castle Hills in San Antonio, Texas.

Throughout the years Ben was on the Board of Directors for Illinois and Kansas-Nebraska State Baptist Convention, Meals-on-Wheels, and Hospice in Midland, Texas. He was a writer of seasonal articles for Crystal Lake Herald 1965-69.

Personal hobbies included golf, tennis, tent camping, gardening, and reading; but his passions were preaching, missions, mentoring, and befriending all with whom he came in contact. He will be remembered for his gentle and kind spirit that characterized his life, even as he battled the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

The family will receive visitors from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, January 31, 2016, at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. Celebration of Life service is February 1, 11:00 a.m. at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary with burial following at Orchard Mesa Cemetery.

Donations can be made to the Valley Church Mission Program, 2940 I-70 Business Loop, Grand Junction. Our family extends our grateful appreciation to the nursing staff at La Villa Grade Care Center for their care and support.