William Earl Walker Jr.

William Earl Walker, Jr., of Norristown, Pennsylvania, passed away at the age of 95, on January 15, 2017, just six months and two days after his wife, of 65 years; Josephine went to be with the Lord.  

Bill was born in Salem, New Jersey on July 12, 1921 to William E. Walker Sr. and Catherine (Kelter) Walker.  His sister was Roseanna E. Sharpe of Michigan and then South Carolina.  

We mourn the passing of this great man, who, as part of what many call the Greatest Generation, was a true hero.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and fought in Northern France where he was wounded in combat and awarded the Purple Heart.  

After his service in the Army, he worked for DuPont Chemical Co., Gulf Oil Co., and retiring from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard from which he in 1971. He enjoyed working around the house, carpentry, and taking photographs. He loved being at his house in the Villas, which is where he met his beloved Jo. At the shore he enjoyed fishing, crabbing, and boating, taking off work every year for one of his favorite pastimes, springtime drum fishing with his father.  He loved to tell his grandchildren stories of his life, and they were amazed at how he could remember so far back.  Known to always finish what he started, he remodeled his homes in both Norristown and New Jersey.  

He was kind and generous and gave all for his family.  He leaves behind his son William, III (Karen), Ronald (Susan) and Kenneth (Donna), and his grandchildren, Jessica, Kenneth, Jr., Ronald Jr., Catherine, Anabel, Laura, William, Adam, Kevin, and numerous nieces and nephews.  He maintained his strong Catholic faith all through his life and was a member of Saint Paul’s Parish.  He is at rest now and we know that he waits for us “somewhere very near, just round the corner.”         

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday at 10:00 AM at the Saint Paul’s Catholic Church in Norristown, where friends may gather from 9:00 AM until time of services for the viewing. Family request in Lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made in the form of Mass cards. Funeral arrangements are in the care of the Volpe funeral home. VolpeFH.com.

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