Marion Earl "Butch" Walker

June 17, 1937 – March 10, 2014

This weekend, Marion “Butch” Walker will be buried in Tilden, Texas, deep within the Eagle Ford Shale and the current oil patch boom. His final resting place (and timing) are fitting, given that he was born in the middle of a similar oil patch boom in 1937, in the tiny town of Freer, Texas. His father worked on crews cementing those oil wells, and later built his own business, Whitey’s Cementers. Butch’s life grew to resemble this rock solid substance needed to complete the drilling process, and he became a reliable and necessary part of the many lives he touched, spreading a wealth of love and laughter to all.

No doubt, the primary benefactor of his open, giving nature was the love of his life, Betty Catherine Walker. “Kaki” and Butch met at Texas A & I University in Kingsville. A friend invited Butch, a life-long Methodist, to attend the Baptist Student Union, where Kaki happened to belong. It was a match made across the denominational aisle. There was just something about that tall, young man with the tight, button-chin that appealed to her. Butch had grown up in Three Rivers, become a jamboree-attending Eagle Scout and band member, and was now majoring in mathematics. In Kaki, Butch found his soul mate, a strong Christian woman who would listen to all of his jokes and laugh, no matter how silly they sounded. Many of their fellow B.S.U. students became life-long friends and attended their wedding in 1960.

After graduation, Butch joined the Army, which took him and Kaki to the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey. They joined the Baptist church there, embracing another group of folks who became friends and confidants for the rest of their lives. In 1962, Butch left the Army and took on two full-time jobs within a month, moving to Richardson, Texas. He started working in the computer programming division at a then small Texas Instruments… and he became a father when his first son, Gary, was born. The always smiling Butch joked how he had to move his family back to Texas once Kaki got pregnant. No child of his was going to list New Jersey on their birth certificate!

In looking at Butch’s life, its obvious loyalty ran deep. T.I. was his only employer, where he spent his entire career within the defense group working on missile system’s testing. That same loyalty was evident on the home front as well, where he and Kaki were married for 53 years. During their first decade together, Butch was thrilled when his second son David was born in 1964, and his only daughter Beth completed the picture with a touch of pink in 1968.

Today, Gary, Beth and David recall so many fond memories of their dad and growing up under his roof. How he instilled his love of Jesus, a strong work ethic and his Walker-style sense of humor. While fast to say he loved them, he showed them too, in many practical ways. They recall how other than the Dallas Cowboys, Butch didn’t really care for sports, yet demonstrated selfless love by attending every single one of their games, learning the rules, cheering them on and befriending their teammates. Birthdays were always big events. Butch loved planning unique parties for his wife. And the entire family still chuckles at the way he insisted they celebrate his birthday for an entire week.

While Butch was the first to engage in conversation, make people comfortable and joke around, service sat at the core of his being, just as Jesus modeled. For more than 50 years, he volunteered faithfully at First Baptist Church of Richardson. The busy father of three served as deacon, taught Sunday school and sang with The Goldenaires in his later years. He loved to sing and did so proudly… even if off-key. His ensemble-mates smile today, knowing he’s on-key in heaven, boldly singing a happy tune. Butch always made younger church members feel at home, and even opened his house to them, hosting Disciple Now weekends for church youth. And just last Wednesday, he spent the better part of the day cleaning the blinds at a home owned by the church, where he and Kaki welcomed traveling missionaries for 15 years.

More groups than you can count, from Cornerstone Church in Fair Park to Homes of Hope in rural Mexico, prosper today because of his labor and leadership. His passport holds the mark of the many countries where he worked on mission trips, serving the needy and spreading God’s word. The Boy Scouts and numerous young men also benefited from his service as a leader and assistant Scout Master. But family will tell you Butch’s most heart-felt service was in private, behind closed doors. He adored his mother Martha and was loving to her until she passed. Butch also spent most of his life lending a helping hand to his younger brother Mickey, who struggled with life-long issues. He loved and was devoted to his three sisters, and spent so many good times with his “Sister Mary” in recent years. His many first cousins were an important and regular part of his life, as were many younger cousins and relatives.

A new door for his time and attention opened in 1996, when Butch retired and his first grandson, Coleman, was born. For months, Butch said he’d not planned to leave the workforce that early and that he liked his job, but within a year, he adjusted to a very active retired life that came complete with a new title: Pops. Luke, Carly, Dillon and Jacob joined Coleman, and those grandkids loved their Pops. All five would rally around the table playing Charoodles howling with laughter, as Pops got louder and funnier. His dog impression will be repeated at reunions for decades to come. Carly and Coleman remember exciting summer days swimming with him after he’d kick off his well-worn boat shoes. Butch wasn’t a passive Pops, he’d go in the driveway with Luke and shoot around a game of Pig.

Nothing could come between Butch and his love for his family. He was always finding ways to get involved with their lives. He never hesitated to round up Kaki and go see the kids, always asking what they were up to, and find out if there was any way he could help. His love grew only deeper as the Walker family grew through marriage with Gary’s wife Rosie, David’s wife Marcie and Beth’s husband Peter (ironically Peter is a well loved New Jersey product). Rosie says Butch always made her feel loved and together they would share so many stories of the grandkids.

This vivacious husband, father, brother and grandpa knew to find the positive in every situation, every day, as he’d witnessed the fragility of life. Butch was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence “Whitey” & Martha Walker and his siblings, Margaret Campbell, Marge Gray and Mickey Walker. Those who mourn his passing today include his sister Mary Elaine Burnett, his wife Kaki and his three children and their families that include; Gary & Rosie Walker with children Coleman, Luke and Carly, David and Marcie Walker with children Dillon & Jacob, and Beth and Peter Haley.

Butch’s good works, engaging spirit and vibrant sense of humor will live on long past his time on this earth. We’re returning his body to a south Texas oil patch in Tilden on Sunday. For those who would like to honor Butch’s memory, as he celebrates in heaven with his Lord Jesus Christ, please join us for services this Friday at 2pm at First Baptist Church of Richardson, 1001 N. Central Expressway. Visitation will be Thursday from 6-8pm and viewing will be Friday 11-1pm, both at Sparkman Funeral Home, 1029 N. Greenville Ave in Richardson. Burial will be Sunday at 4pm, at Hill Top Cemetery in Tilden with a reception following at Tilden Baptist Church.

Butch always encouraged younger generations to thrive, and believed in the importance of faith and education. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers a donation to The Landes Scholarship Fund at First Baptist Church of Richardson, helping today’s youth attend college. You’ll find information at www.fbcr.org/students/high-school-graduates, or you can call the church at 972-235-5296.