THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 1, 1997 TAG: 9701010197
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: STUART LENGTH: 36 lines
Herskel Leon Walker, 71, passed away Dec. 30, 1996.
He was known by his friends as ``Johnny,'' by his family as ``Bossy'' and by his grandchildren as ``Paw Paw.'' He was born Feb. 15, 1925, in Jefferson County, Ala., the fourth son of Howard Maston Walker by his second wife, Lena Lou Vena Needham.
Mr. Walker's earliest years were spent near Argo, Ala., with the rest of his formative years spent in Norlina, N.C., where he grew to manhood. He was the first to climb the Norlina High School flag to impress his future wife, and is survived by Frances Dare Hudgins Walker of Stuart, formerly of Norlina. In addition, he is survived by their son and daughter-in-law, Woodie Leon and Freda Runyon Walker; daughter, Mrs. James Harold (Linda Dare) Wescott; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
After having spent more than 25 years as a brakeman/conductor for the Norfolk and Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad, he embarked on a second career as a tatto artist and gained world recognition for his innovative techniques and accomplishments. In addition to being licensed both privately and commercially as a pilot, he was proficient in performing aerobatics in open cockpit aircraft. He was a member of the Mayo Mountain Baptist Church, Stuart, and a member of the Tom Smith Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Mr. Walker had many hobbies in life, one of which was boat racing where he participated in many events, among them the Orange Bowl Regatta in Miami, Fla., and the 1953 World Championship in Syracuse, N.Y., for Class A Stock hydroplanes. A debilitating accident in 1970 left him disabled and he spent the remaining years of his life in Stuart among the nature and wildlife that he loved so dearly.
Funeral services will be held at Blaylock Funeral Home, Warrentown, N.C., at 1 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Warrendale Cemetery in Norlina, where many of his boyhood friends rest.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY