Billie Walker

Billie Mae Walker, 61, won the final victory to go home and be with our Lord and Savior on April 14, 2024 in Abilene, Texas.

She was born at the former Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth Texas on October 30,1962 to Lowell Allen “Bud” Pitman and Barbara Jean (Hossack) Pitman. She was a typical Air Force “brat” as she accompanied her parents to assignments including Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas; Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska; and Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts.

Following Bud’s Air Force retirement in 1974, the family moved to Hudson Oaks, Texas, where Billie graduated from Weatherford High School in 1981. She attended Weatherford College and in turn was accepted to Texas Christian University.

Billie excelled both in 4H and horsemanship while in high school and enjoyed a great career competing in barrel racing in high school rodeos, rodeo pageants, and the Fort Worth Fat Stock Show and Rodeo.   

Billie met the love of her life, Roy, at Carswell Air Force Base in April 1984, where she was working part time for the Base Exchange. Roy and Billie married on May 11, 1985 at the Carswell Air Force Base Chapel.

Billie supported Roy throughout his various assignments flying the B-52H and later the B-1B. They were stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and several assignments at Dyess Air Force Base.  Billie graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hardin Simmons University in 1994.  

Daughters Shelby and Shannon arrived in 1998 and 2001, respectively. Billie was an exceptional mother, teacher and role model which led to her becoming a Texas state educator in 2007.

The family remained in Abilene when Roy retired from the Air Force in 2007. Billie earned a Master’s degree in Literacy and Curriculum Development from Texas Tech University in 2019.  She was accepted for doctoral studies Education in Curriculum and Instruction at Texas Tech University. 

Billie taught 4^th grade at Allie Ward Elementary and later at Madison Middle School, where she taught reading and literacy. She was central to supervising the Madison Middle School yearbook.  A master teacher, Billie had an innate empathy for reaching and motivating children to set them on the road to reading comprehension and literary success. She particularly enjoyed using the “Percy Jackson” series of books to capture imaginations.

Survivors include her husband Roy and daughters Shelby and Shannon of Abilene; brothers Bud Allen Pitman (Susan) of New Ipswich, New Hampshire; and Ben Lowell Pitman (Angela) of East Kingston, New Hampshire.

Visitation will be 1:00pm to 2:00pm on Thursday April 18, 2024 with memorial service starting at 2:00pm at Beltway Baptist Church North Campus. Interment will be in a private ceremony later at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery. Arrangements are being made by the Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene.

In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions in her name to the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.