Samuel Wayne Walker

Samuel W. Walker, 73, died Monday, November 06, 2006 in a local hospital. A funeral service, with Reverend Derrell Patterson officiating, will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 8 in Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in the Breckenridge cemetery under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Sam was born August 21, 1933 in Desdemona, Texas to Charles Clarence and Phala Southern Walker. He attended school and graduated from Breckenridge High School where he excelled in football, earning all-district and all-state honors. After high school, Sam attended Hardin Simmons University, where he received all-border conference honors in football. Graduating from Hardin Simmons in 1955, Sam joined the U.S. Navy where he served his country for several years. On November 23, 1952, he married his high school sweetheart, Joan Hefner. After his service in the Navy, Sam and Joan began his coaching career, where he coached at Winters, Hamlin, Albany, Henrietta, Stamford and Breckenridge. In 1975, Sam retired from coaching and began work as a safety coordinator for Sun Oil Company where he worked until retirement in 1988. A member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Sam enjoyed wood working and traveling with his family. He was preceded in death by his parents and four sisters. Survivors include: his wife of fifty three years, Joan Walker of Abilene; a son, Sam Walker, Jr. and his wife Lisa of Winnsboro, Texas; a daughter, Lisa Ann Walker of Abilene; two sisters, Betty Bishop of Mansfield, Texas and Mary Gray of Weatherford, Texas; three grandsons, Rush, Troy and Clay Walker.