Richard O. Walker Jr.

Richard O. Walker, Jr.
On March 19, 2011, Richard O. Walker, Jr. passed away of natural causes surrounded by his family at his home in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Mr. Walker was born in Columbus Ohio in 1923 where he lived with his parents and his brother, Crayton. He graduated from Bexley High School in 1941and before entering Princeton University in 1942 did a post-graduate year at the Hun School. He was an accomplished athlete in high school and college – All-Ohio in football and lettering in 4 sports at Bexley. While at Princeton he lettered in both football and basketball.
During World War II, he served in an anti-aircraft unit from 1943 receiving a medical discharge after a long illness. He returned to Princeton in 1945 where he finished his Bachelors and Masters degrees in civil engineering. Following a short teaching assignment at Princeton, he joined the architectural and engineering firm of Abbott Merkt and Company to begin a distinguished 30-year career. During his time there he and his colleagues worked on many significant projects, designing department stores, shopping centers, airport facilities and a new city near Lille in France. He was recognized by his peers as the President of the American Institute of Consulting Engineers in 1967.
In 1977, Mr. Walker decided to impart the knowledge gained from his experience to the next generation and embarked on a new career as an Associate Professor of Construction Engineering at Purdue University where he served until his retirement in 1988 as Professor Emeritus. During that time, his students profited not only from his professional expertise but also from his great ability to communicate with others and serve as a leader in the field.
In addition to his professional life, he was a devoted son to his mother, Abigail Crayton Walker (widowed in 1943 and deceased in 1979) and husband to his beloved wife Marjorie Stearns Walker (deceased in 2007). Together they raised two sons, Richard O. Walker III and David Stearns Walker and were the proud grandparents of Matthew, Audrey, Brian, Jessica and Lauren Walker.
Outside of work and family, Mr. Walker was an active member of his community serving in many capacities at Princeton University including Class President of the Class of 1946 and President of the Princeton Club of New York. He was also active in the Episcopal Church serving on the Vestry and as Senior Warden at Christ Church, Bronxville (NY) and on the Vestry at St. John?s in Lafayette (IN). He also served on the Commission on Ministry for the Diocese of Indiana. For many years, he was Treasurer of the West Lafayette Rotary Club.
He was a lifelong student interested in subjects ranging from the Civil War to French literature and history. His many friends recall a man of humility, integrity, deep loyalty and a spirit of generosity and good humor always ready with a smile, a kind word and a funny story.
In addition to his two sons and grandchildren he is also survived by his beloved daughters-in-law Dale Hanson Walker and Deborah Camalier Walker, by his cherished niece Ellen Stearns Lewis and her husband Elwood (Chip) Lewis and by his devoted caregivers Vicki Hazlewood and Nancy Hicks.
Services at a later date in New York; www.soller-baker.com