Harold Walker

Obituary

Harold G. “Pete” Walker was born September 6, 1924 in Copeland, Kansas to Martha Maime Walker and Jesse Franklin Walker.  He departed his earthly home on April 5, 2022 at the age of 97. He was the youngest son of 11 children and attended Hartland Elementary and Lakin High School in Lakin, Kansas. Pete  enlisted  in the  United  States  Army  on  June  28, 1943.   He served with General Patton’s Third Army, Army Corp of Engineers, where he achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class and was Honorably Discharged on December 29, 1945.  He saw service in the European Theater, where he received four Battle Stars, along with the Bronze Star, a World War II Victory Medal, a Marksmanship Badge, an Army Achievement Medallion and other awards. Pete entered the restaurant business after his discharge, with his brother, Robert Aurbrey. Pete began his career with Helmerich & Payne Drilling after leaving the restaurant business. Pete  married  his  childhood  friend  and  the  love  of  his  life,  Margaret  Elaine  Shankle  on December 31, 1946.  Pete and Margaret had three children: two sons: Harold Steven of Austin, Texas; William LeRoy of Clinton and one daughter, Malea Newman of Carter. Pete worked in Kansas, Texas, Montana and Oklahoma. He also spent five years in Canada working for Dernick and Geyer Drilling Company and five years in South America with Helmerich & Payne.  He was onsite in Bolivia and Peru. Pete was known as an honest, hardworking man. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, gardening, cooking and baking for his family and the First Christian Church Men’s Breakfast Club.  He was a faithful member of First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ of Elk City and cherished his time with his church family, Friday Night Bash and playing bingo.  Pete served his church in numerous capacities through the years.  He was honored by his church family with the coveted title of Life Elder. The church dedicated their ball field, “The Pete Walker Practice Field”. He held the honor of the longest serving custodian in church history. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his family and relatives, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Maime; his adoring wife of 55 years, Margaret; one grandson, Jonathan Walker and one great grandson, Parker Noble. Pete is survived by two sons: Steve and his wife, Jamie of Austin, Texas and Bill and his wife,  Tommie,  of  Clinton,  Oklahoma; one  daughter,  Malea Newman and her husband,  Jerry  of Carter, Oklahoma; his grandchildren: Rachelle Roberts and her husband, Butch, Brandon Jharet Walker, Matthew Walker and his wife Emily, Mark Vaughan and his wife, Jenesa, Julie Briscoe and her husband, Jeremy; Peyton Walker and his wife, Lacey, Autum Poston and her husband, Aaron, Ashlee  Noble  and  her  husband, Lance, Brooke Hurd,  his great-grandchildren:  Jackson Walker, Reid  Roberts,  Rylee  Roberts, Brock  Vaughan  and  his wife,  Kirsten,  Korbin  Newman, Rayden  Walker, Madison  Walker,  Jaxon  Walker, Adalynn  Poston,  Austin Poston,  Maddex  Noble, Annabelle Noble, Luke and Jacob Hurd. One sister-in-law, Dorothy Shankle and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and Christian brothers and sisters.