Obituary of George Franklin Walker

George Franklin Roosevelt Walker"Gizmo" / "Gizz"age 84, of Thaxton, Va. went to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 2, 2017. Born in Warner, NH on Nov. 24, 1932, he was the son of the late Charles Hutchinson Walker and Minnie Ida Banfill Walker. He was married to his beloved wife Phyllis Marie Bushway Walker for nearly 54 years before she departed her earthly home to her heavenly home. He was also predeceased by his young daughter, Gail Frances Walker, sister Barbara Bock, brothers, Howard Ingerson, Charles Walker, Kenneth L. Walker, and Richard C. Walker. Mr. Walker worked in horticulture at a greenhouse in his earlier years, then went into logging, then worked for Irving & Sons Plumbing & Heating, traveling through New England. He later worked in land clearing operating heavy machinery which led him and his family to West Virginia, and Virginia in 1976, then to Thaxton, where he currently resided. In his retired years he volunteered at Bedford Ride program. He was always active in singing from an early age. He sang in his church and was a member of the Junior Boys Choir in which they often sang in their community and surrounding areas near Concord, NH. Years later he was a member of the Silver Notes Singing group which visited local nursing facilities in the Bedford County (Va) area. He played harmonica, an accordion, a keyboard organ, and sometimes strummed an auto harp and guitar. He loved reading, watching western and historical theme shows and reading novels of the like, and gardening. His hobby in woodworking led him to make many pieces of furniture and novelty items for family and friends which is now his legacy. In years earlier he went hunting and fishing. He had his favorite canine and feathered companions, most recently Bobo and his finches. He traveled out west many times to visit his beloved Colorado family wishing to go again if his health didn't decline. He was a member of the Union United Methodist Church where he was dedicated to the music ministry. He attended and became a member of Mountain View Union Church and actively sang in the choir as he loved to sing from his heart and soul. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his son James "Jim" W. Walker and wife Liz, of Knotts Island, NC, daughters Elizabeth "Punky"Arnold, Bedford, Va., Marie Ann Walker, Orange City, Fla., and Deborah "Debbie"Tuck, and husband Joe, of Montvale; eight grandchildren: Wanda Seaver, Samantha Belloir, Joseph "Jojo" (Jodi) Arnold, Heather Anderson, Eric Knee, Seth Walker, Joseph "Joey/Joe" Tuck, Jennifer "Jen" Tuck; thirteen great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren, several cousins, one special cousin, Virginia Banfill Hiltz; brothers-in-law Arthur Morin, Bobby Bushway (Barbara), of N.H. and sister-in-law Ruth Walker, of Lakewood, CO., numerous nephews and nieces and friends and church family; a very special caregiver, Nancy Holdren Graves. A special thank you to Montvale Rescue Squad, Home Recovery Health Care, and the Palliative Care Unit team at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. A memorial service will be conducted at Union United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 11, at one (1) PM. Directly following service will be fellowship and refreshments in fellowship hall at the church. In lieu of flowers, (at Mr. Walker's request) please consider giving to Bedford Animal Hospital: 1064 Centerville Rd. Bedford, VA 24523. Updike Funeral Home in Bedford is assisting the family.