Roger Dale Walker, Sr., 71, passed away on September 24, 2021, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, Indiana. He was born on March 11, 1950, in St. Louis, Missouri to the late Ernest “Red” and Iva (Rainwater) Walker.
Roger graduated from Woodlawn High School in 1968. After high school, he was drafted during the Vietnam era in the U.S. Army. Roger’s basic training was completed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and his Advanced Individual Training was in El Paso, Texas. He participated in an overseas deployment in Baumholder, Germany where he was a missile crewman for the Nike Hercules Missiles. Mr. Walker is listed in the Hall of Honor for U.S. Veterans Military Museum in Mt. Vernon, Illinois for his military service.
After serving in the military, Roger worked for General Radiator for seventeen years, later went to work for Anheuser-Busch Distribution Center for twenty-one years, and then retired in 2013 from Walgreens Distribution Center after four years in Mt. Vernon. Roger attended Marco Church in early years and later at Mt. Catherine Church. He enjoyed flea markets, collecting bottles, fishing, vacationing to different states, eating chocolate and most importantly, loved time with his family and friends. Roger married Freda L. Shelton in 1969 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and they were blessed with over fifty-two years of marriage.
In addition to his wife, Roger is survived by his son, Roger D. Jr.; daughters, Julie D. Bullard, and Susan L. Willmore and husband, Clinton; grandchildren, Jeffrey D. Bullard, Jr., William N. Bullard, and Kambria I. Willmore; sisters, Diana L. Anderson, Kathy A. Willis and husband, Paul Pfister, Linda M. Lee, Carla D. Ellis and husband, Bobby; and several nieces and nephews along with his beloved dog, Dixie.
In addition to his parents, Roger is preceded in death by his grandparents and brother, Larry G. Walker.
A Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 30, 2021, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, October 1, 2021, at 1:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home with Reverend Steve Ashmore officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Catherine Cemetery in Woodlawn, Illinois. Full military honors will be conducted by the American Legion Post #141.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
