Earl Jerome Walker

Earl was a life-long Austin resident. From an early age, he was interested in music and art. When he was in junior high, he had a sketch displayed at the Laguna Gloria Art School and he was selected to attend a music class at the University of Texas at Austin. During high school, he continued to cultivate his passion for music by joining choir, band, and other creative clubs. He graduated from Reagan High School in the Centennial Class of 1976.

After high school, Earl did not forget his gifting in and passion for music. While working at different jobs including his own company, Austin Lawn Maintenance, Earl never stopped learning and seeking to create beautiful music. After long days cutting yards, he would spend time with his family and then stay up late into the early morning hours reading textbooks, playing his keyboard, and writing music. He took his early musical education in high school and several semesters of college and gradually taught himself more and more music theory, composition, and audio engineering.

More than his passion for music, was his love of his family. On Valentine’s Day weekend of 1978, Earl went disco dancing down on Guadalupe Street. He saw a young lady dancing and said that was the woman he was going to marry. He met her, danced the night away, and did in fact marry Debbie Dodaro on July 18 1982. Earl and Debbie shared over 4 decades of love, laughter, perseverance, memories, and three children. Jonathan, Daniel, and Amanda were his pride and joy who he loved immensely. He was able to see all three through homeschooling, community college, and University of Texas graduations. More importantly, he was able to meet and love 6 grandchildren. Roman, Ezra, Bailey, Simone, Zeke, and Justus were cherished by Grandpop.

In his senior year of school, Earl realized his need of a savior and repented and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, a faith he would carry with him through many years and different trials. He clung to his hope in Jesus until his final day. Earl loved Jesus and never hesitated to share him with friends or people he had just met. He lived daily trusting God while teaching his family that faith and hope in the saving work of Christ were bigger than any setback, disappointment, or struggle. Earl was a member at Christ Memorial Baptist Church (merged to become High Pointe Baptist Church) from 1990 until his passing.

Earl was preceded in death by his mother, Viola Penn Guyton, his father, Earlene Walker, his grandmother, Katherine Penn, his grandfather Rev. J.H. Penn, and his sister, Ms. Indalita (Lisa) Hill-Johnson. The family would like to thank all those who cared so well for Earl the last three and a half years including Austin Hospice, Dallas Thermography Center, Texas Oncology, and the many people at North Austin Medical Center surgery and rehabilitation.

To cherish his memories, Earl leaves behind his loving wife, Debbie Walker; his children, Jonathan Walker (wife Kelly), Daniel Walker (wife Claire), and Amanda Roberts (husband Michael); grandchildren Roman and Bailey (parents Jonathan and Kelly), Simone and Justus

(parents Daniel and Claire), and Ezra and Ezekiel “Zeke” (parents Amanda and Michael); sisters Minister Catherine Kearney (husband Ambres) and Wanda Walker Hunter (husband Norwood Ray); and many more loving relatives and friends.

For those who would like to donate in Earl’s memory, the family asks for donations to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in keeping with Earl’s desire to see the gospel shared to all.

The family will receive guests for a time of visitation from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at the Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas. Funeral Service will be held Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 1:00 P.M. at High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, Texas with Pastor Juan R. Sanchez officiating. Interment will follow at Cook-Walden Memorial Hill Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas.