July 21, 1934 – May 23, 2020
Alan “Al” Lee Walker, formerly of Bedford, died Saturday, May 23 in Spartanburg, SC where he had been living for several years.
Born July 21, 1934, to Chester and Lura (True) Walker, he was married to Donnera Phillips who preceded him in death on November 9, 2017.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Chester (Gloria) Kasnowski of Reston, VA, and Mrs. David (Elizabeth) Blumenfeld of Landrum, SC, two granddaughters, Lura and Leiha Blumenfeld, and one grandson, Jacob Blumenfeld.
Other survivors include nephews, Kenny and Jim Gates, Gary, Terry, and Richard Phillips, and two nieces, Donna Ann Gunn and Linda Kay Tobler.
Under his expansive wings of love, he included as his honorary daughters, Linda (Black) Whitted and Susan Lee, both of Lawrence/Monroe County, Jasmin Becker Langer of Germany, Bernadette Thompson Beattie and Amanda Moon Bloomfield, both of Northern Ireland.
Many remember him as one of the “Voices of the Stonecutters” in the Quarry on WBIW where he was also an ad salesman spanning the 1960s to mid-1970s. He switched to WUME for Paoli sports and advertising for several years. He loved the (current) West Baden Springs Hotel and jumped at the opportunity to serve as a college recruiter and teacher when it operated as Northwood Institute.
For a period of time, he served as Bedford Chamber of Commerce director, then settled into running the Owls Nest and co-owning the Jug Store until opting for total retirement. He and Donnera loved cats, keeping one at the Owls Nest for years, and usually at least one orange tomcat at home.
Mr. Walker served as a Bedford First Presbyterian Church elder and its tenor in the choir sharing puns with anyone who would listen. He was a member of the Bedford Lodge #14 F&AM, a former Lawrence County Democratic Party Chairman, a former congressional campaign manager, acted and directed in Bedford Little Theater and The Orange County Players.
For a number of years, he was an active boater and member of the Power Squadron. He also was a US Air Force Reservist and the Army National Guard at Bedford’s Armory.
He loved to travel, but always considered Colorado as Heaven-on-Earth. He loved history, visiting Civil War battlefields with friends, creating motorcycle trips to abandoned railroad trails and ghost towns in Colorado. One of his favorite motorcycle trips was “Around the World in Indiana” where he led people to Hoosier towns with foreign country’s names. He and Donnera shared that love for motorcycling, exploring, seeing all 50 state capitols, visiting Northern Ireland, the UK, and Germany. Most likely, he’s already mapping a tour of heaven.
In recognition of current health events, the family will schedule a celebration of his life on Saturday, August 29, 2020, at the Thornton Park Pavilion in Bedford from 9 a.m. until noon. Masonic Rites will be accorded at 10 a.m. followed by a memorial service. The family requests masks or face shields to be worn. Burial will follow in Bristow Cemetery in Bristow, Indiana.
Any memorials may be sent in Al’s memory to the First Presbyterian Church, the Bedford Masonic Lodge, or the Lawrence County Humane Society.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fergusonlee.com.
