Robert Nathaniel Walker was born in New Orleans on Friday, March 5, 1954. He was the first of four sons born to Rev. Samuel W. Walker, Sr., a United Methodist Minister in the Louisiana Conference, and Gwendolyn Lawson Walker, an educator. During his early life he lived with his family in cities around Louisiana, including Bastrop, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. At the age of 12 he accepted Christ and was baptized by his father at Camphor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge. Growing up in his dad’s churches, Robert served as an altar boy, sang in choirs, and enjoyed Sunday school and youth retreats. He also enjoyed cartoons, comic books, and MAD magazines, all of which helped develop his excellent sense of humor. During early high school years he enjoyed playing the oboe in concert band. Robert was known to take surprise photos of his loved ones. Early on he developed an insatiable hunger for tinkering with machines and model rockets.
Robert graduated from Warren Easton High School in New Orleans in 1971 and began studying engineering at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. After leaving college he worked for three years as a draftsman at Martin Marietta in New Orleans before he found his way to Boeing in Everett, WA. He was a highly regarded tool design engineer who worked until his passing.
During the first week of college Robert met the love of his life, Norma Jean ‘Jeannie’ Carter from LaPlace, LA. They married on August 17th, 1974, and were coming up on their 50th wedding anniversary. He loved and was unselfishly devoted to Jeannie and their two daughters, Avianca and Carissa. Five years ago, he was happy to welcome Michael, Avianca’s husband, into the family. More recently he beamed when his granddaughter, Naomi, arrived. They developed a very special bond.
Throughout his adult life Robert was active in humbly proclaiming the love of Jesus through actions. He held high the banner of affordable housing by participating actively on the board of Housing Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to that cause. Always active in church, he and his family were members at First United Methodist Church of Everett where for many years he served as a lay Leader, taught junior high and adult bible studies, and sang in the choir. He also participated and served for years as a leader in Bible Study Fellowship. More recently, he and Jeannie held their membership at Smokey Point Community Church in Arlington, WA, where Robert served the congregation as a loving and caring Elder.
Mr. Walker passed away comfortably into the arms of his Savior on Friday, May 10th, 2024, in Everett, WA. He was surrounded by his beloved wife, two daughters, and dear cousins, Marilyn and Leonard as he peacefully breathed his last breath.
Left to cherish the blessings and memories of his life are his wife Jeannie Walker; daughters Avianca Walker Loundermon and Carissa Faythe Walker; son-in-law Michael Loundermon; granddaughter Naomi Loundermon; brothers Samuel Walker, Jr. (Vernadette), and Kenneth Walker; cousins Gregory Parker, Marilyn Parker-Brooks (Leonard), Candice Edwards, and Kelly Walton; nieces Samonne Montgomery (Marcus) and Elan Walker Patterson; nephew Samuel Walker III; brother-in-law John Carter Jr., and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, close friends, and friendly associates.
A celebration of Robert’s life will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Smokey Point Community Church in Arlington, WA. Since he always loved wearing his black leather cowboy boots to celebratory events, boots and hats are welcome. A second celebration is being planned in New Orleans and will be shared broadly. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider making a donation to Housing Hope. Memorial gifts marked “in memory of Robert Walker” (either online or in your check memo line) will be placed in the agency’s ChildHope Endowment Fund.
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