Bill V. Walker
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Bill V. Walker, Marshfield, was born October 29, 1934, in Oklahoma City, OK, to Howard and Hazel (Bone) Walker. He departed this life on May 8, 2023, at Citizens Memorial Hospital, Bolivar, at the age of 88.
Bill graduated from West Plains High School where he was a proud Zizzer. He was an outstanding athlete in football and track, receiving many awards. After high school, he served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict era. During his two-year enlistment in Germany, Bill worked in a top-secret atomic weapons division. After serving in the Army, he attended SMSU (now MSU) where he played football and received his Bachelors in Education. He eventually went on to get his Masters in Education from Drury.
While he was in college, he was reintroduced to a former West Plains graduate (one of the few he hadn’t dated) and they went on their first date. She (Jo) went home and told her roommate that she was going to marry him. A year later, they married and in July 2023 would have been married 65 years. During the early time of their marriage, they welcomed 4 children into their family; Beth, Tim, Julie, and Andy.
In 1970, Bill became the principal of Marshfield High School where he served for 21 years. During his time as principal at Marshfield, he acquired his nickname – Billie Badger, which he embraced to the fullest. He is now showing his Bluejay pride by doing cartwheels in heaven, just as he did while supporting his favorite Bluejays. He loved visiting with his former students and many of them still refer to him as “Mr. Walker,” stating that they simply couldn’t call him “Bill.”
Bill was a long-term member of the Marshfield Christian Church, where he served as a youth leader, a Sunday School teacher, an elder, and finally as an Elder Emeritus. He was an active member of the Marshfield Rotary Club, including serving as president. He also worked with the Silver Hair Legislature, alongside Jo.
Bill always enjoyed his time fishing and hunting with his special friends like Mike and Rob Ahrens, as well as chatting over cups of coffee with his favorite morning coffee group.
After retirement, he was a reading buddy to students at Hubble Elementary. He also took great joy competing in athletic events such as the Highland Games and the Senior Games. Bill was proud to receive many awards, including placing 2nd in the nation in the shot put and discus.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Rex Walker, and wife JoAnne.
Bill is survived by his wife Jo; four children, Beth Burch and husband Tom, Ozark, MO, Tim Walker and wife Laura, Cambridge, WI, Julie Vanlandingham, Springfield, MO, Andy Walker and wife Anita, Jefferson City, MO; grandchildren, Joel Steinle, Bella Vista, AR, Arwen Pratt and husband Nathan, Marshfield, MO, Myla Vanlandingham, Denver, CO, Jeena Burch, Willard, MO, Joshua Walker, Jefferson City, MO, Della DeGroff and husband Daniel, Jefferson City, MO, TJ and Sean Walker, Cambridge, WI; nine great-grandchildren; Kennedy, Boston, Chandler, Layke, Gadsden, Mayzee, Jaela, Livia, Jameson and several other caring nieces and nephews, relatives, his Fremont family, friends, former students, and teachers.
A Celebration of Life service for Bill will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Fraker Funeral Home, with a reception to follow at the Marshfield Christian Church. Services will be officiated by Rev. Wes Mackey and are under the direction of Fraker Funeral Home, Inc., Marshfield.
The family encourages everyone to wear blue to the Celebration of Life service to show their Bluejay pride.
A private graveside service will be held at the Marshfield Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Marshfield Public School Foundation for the Bill Walker Track and Field Scholarship and left in the care of Fraker Funeral Home, Inc., P.O. Box 85, Marshfield, MO 65706.