David M. Walker
David Marshall Walker, 72, died Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at his home on Largent Heights Lane in Hampshire County, West Virginia.
Born Joe David Walker in Burbank, California he is the son of Joe Sam Walker and Margie Marie Clapp Walker.
After graduating from High School in Mayfield, Kentucky in 1959 he joined the United States Marine Corps and served honorably from July 1960 into the Vietnam Era, August 1964. He attended Murray State College, Kentucky; American University, Washington, D.C.; and graduated from Maryland University, Maryland followed by graduate study.
For over 20 years he was a teacher employed by Anne Arundel County Board of Education, Maryland. His specialty was English, Literature and Shakespeare.
He was a member of the Friends of the Cacapon River, Potomac Valley Audubon, among several other environmental organizations, Paralyzed Veterans Association, as well as the National Rifle Association. His interests included reading, writing, and studying the Bible. His favorite book during his fight against ALS was Ed Dobson’s Prayers and Promises.
He was devoted to his five dogs including a 3-lb Therapy dog, wild birds by the dozens at feeders outside and a suite of canaries inside.
He is survived by his mother, Margie Marie Watkins of Mayfield, Kentucky, and his wife, Abby Chapple Walker, both living at home in West Virginia. In addition he is survived by three children of a previous marriage: two daughters, Fredrica Marie Becnel and Belinda Anne Cannon, both of Severna Park, Maryland; and a son, Ryan David Walker of Washington, D.C. He has five grandchildren.
He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Great Cacapon. Private services will be conducted by Pastor Larry Tomlinson outside Annapolis, Maryland. Date has not been set.
Memorial contributions may be made to West Virginia Paralyzed Veterans, 336 Campbell’s Creek Drive, Charleston, West Virginia, 25306-6806 and the ALAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association,7507 Standish Place Rockville, MD 20855.
Arrangements by Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.
This is a paid obituary.
