Funeral services for Earl L. Walker, 90, of Portales, will be at 2:00 PM, Sat., Aug. 19, 2017 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Rev. John Combs officiating. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Erik Winter, Tyrel Wilson, Nathan Walker, Chance Walker, Chad Walker, Joshua Walker and Hagen Rains serving as pallbearers. The staff of the Farwell Convalescent Center will be honorary pallbearers.
Earl Leon Walker was born April 17, 1927, in the Long’s community in southern Roosevelt County, and died Aug. 16, 2017at the Farwell Convalescent Center, where had been living for the past three years. Earl lived in Roosevelt County almost his entire life.
He attended school at Rogers, and was drafted just before he graduated near the end of World War II. Following his discharge, he returned home, and worked with his father on the family dairy for several years. On Aug. 23, 1952 in Portales, he was married to Billie Jean Gibbs. He farmed and ran a dairy until 1970 when he became disabled. Since that time he had enjoyed gardening and raising various animals and livestock. He was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church.
He is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Dawn Walker of Clinton, OK, Lewis and Lisa Walker of Dora, and Brent and Angela Walker of Portales; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Brenda and P. J. VanDyke of Las Cruces, NM, Glenda Walker of Portales and Valinda and Danny Wilson of Grady, NM; twelve grandchildren, Terra (Erik) Winter, Stephanie (Kent) McMillan, Nathan (Sandra) Walker, Chance (Chamee) Walker, Chad Walker, Brandy (Gary) Rains, Sarah Walker, Joshua Walker, Heather Walker, Destiny Walker, Tyrel Wilson and Cala Wilson; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Troy, Floyd and Claud Walker, and by his wife, Billie Jean who died Nov. 19, 2015.
