Rev. John C. Walker
The Rev. John C. Walker, 91, a retired Elder, died Nov. 21, 2018. A Celebration of Life was held at St. Paul’s UMC in Kensington Dec. 22 with the Rev. Adam Snell officiating.
John Charles Walker was born May 6, 1927, the son of Ruth and Clay Walker. He grew up in Chevy Chase and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in 1945 and enlisted in the Army. He served in post-war Germany. Upon his return he attended the University of Maryland and DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he met his wife-to-be.
He and Beverly “Bobbie” Pierce were married in 1952 and moved to New Haven, Conn., for him to study for the ministry and she to work in voice and piano, skills that she used in support of his subsequent church appointments.
Walker began his ministry in 1954 as an associate at Metropolitan Memorial UMC in D.C. He was ordained in 1955. In 1960, he was appointed to Concord (later Concord-St. Andrews UMC) in Bethesda where he remained until 1976 when he was transferred to Wesley UMC in D.C. In 1988, he was appointed to Francis Asbury UMC in Rockville and remained until he retired in 1994. He continued in ministry at St. Paul’s UMC in Kensington.
Walker was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda for 62 years.
“He was an utterly non-judgmental man who lived more than nine decades of life with elegant grace and boundless optimism,” said his children in remembrance.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Beverly “Bobbie” Walker.
Survivors include his children: Betsy Walker, Jorgy Gorog and her husband Peter, and Christopher Walker and his wife Trudy, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Montgomery Hospice Casey House, 1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850.
Condolences may be sent to Chris Walker, 2859 East Rail N Road, Catalina, A 85739.