John "Buddy" Henry Walker Jr.

John Henry Walker, Jr., was born in Port Arthur, Texas, on the 17th of January 1929, to the late John and Annie Walker. He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loved ones on the 13th of December 2020.

John, commonly referred to as “Buddy”, was raised on a farm in Penelope, Texas, and was the third oldest of twelve children. After graduating from Penelope High School at 16, he attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. While working his way through college, as a butcher at H-E-B, he met the love of his life, Mary Jo Deathe. They were married November 22, 1951, in San Antonio, Texas.

After being released by the Army and moving to Houston, John went to work for Stauffer Chemical Company and eventually became the Regional Manager of its Specialty Chemical Division. He enjoyed running cattle in the Barker Reservoir and working with bees. At one point he kept over 40 hives in his Memorial Area home. He loved the outdoors, especially fishing and hunting with his children and grandchildren. He was the consummate handy man that couldn’t find enough things to be fixed and was looked at as the neighborhood go to person when something was broken.

John is preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 Years Mary Jo and a great granddaughter, Moriah Wimberly. He is survived by his 10 children and their spouses John H. Walker III and Lea Ann Walker, Tamara Blair, Connie and Billy Wimberly, Rebecca and Tommy Zett, Chris and Pamela Walker, Mike and Lisa Walker, Pat and Sandy Walker, Tommy Walker, Cindy and Chris McClain, and Colette and John Perez, all of which attend Texas A&M University, his 28 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. John’s most important values in life were anchored around his Catholic Faith.

His “sage“advice was always the guiding principle that his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and their many friends, neighbors, and acquaintances leaned to for support. He was actively involved in his community – as a parishioner at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, an active member of the Knights of Columbus, and was passionately involved in his children’s education and his conservative political views. He and Mary Jo were honored as Texas A&M’s Parents of the Year for the 1976-1977 school year.

Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Freeway in Houston, Texas, on Sunday, December 20th, 2020, from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00pm. There will be a funeral Mass on Monday, December 21st, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Vianney Catholic Church (located at 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, Texas).

In lieu of flowers, contributions in John's memory may be made to the Mary Jo and John H Walker Jr Scholarship Fund at Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialoaksfunerals.com for the Walker family.