Obituary of Roderick L. Walker

Roderick L. Walker, 88, formerly of Rt. 430 Bemus Point, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Wednesday May 24, 2017, in Heritage Green Rehab and Skilled Nursing. He was born June 23, 1928, in Jamestown, a son of the late John and Elora Hoard Walker. He attended Jamestown Public Schools and was a Korean War veteran of the US Air Force serving from 1948 until his honorable discharge as a staff sergeant in 1952. During his time in the service he received training in the repair and maintenance of several types of aircrafts. His working career started in 1944 when he drove delivery truck for William Beck Grocery. Then his love of aviation took hold. He started flying lessons in 1945 and took his first solo flight July 10th of that year. In 1948 he worked as a gas boy at the Jamestown Airport. Following discharge from 4 years in the service his working career took him from the Jamestown Aviation Company to JHW Aerospace as operations manager to Vac Air Alloys Corporation where he maintained the company's airplanes, hanger and ancillary equipment. He was proud of the fact that he owned 10 airplanes during his life. He was the go-to mechanic for many small plane owners in the Jamestown area. Rod was an avid hunter, whether on the land owned by his brother Clark or an annual trip to the Adirondacks with family and friends. He and his late wife liked to camp. They would go to Speculator, NY for the "Fly Ins" for seaplanes and they would go to Maine to eat lobster. Rod also enjoyed going to Oshkosh, WI for the Experimental Aircraft Association Air show. He was a member of Bemus Point United Methodist Church for over 40 years and was involved in the tape ministry. He was also a member of the Ellery Senior Citizens. He volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol teaching airplane restoration and repair. Surviving are two sisters Jacqueline (John) Watkins and Kay Sfetko, both of Greenwood, IN; a brother Clark Walker of Panama and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Hawkins Walker, whom he married July 4, 1963 and who died March 27, 2007 and a sister Fern Nelson in 2008. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Lind Funeral Home. Rev. Samuel Shreffler will officiate. Burial will be in Fluvanna Cemetery. Friends will be received for one hour prior to the service in the funeral home Saturday. Memorials may be made to Lucile M. Wright Air Museum, 300 North Main Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 or UCAN City Mission, 7 West First Street, Jamestown, NY 14701. You may leave words of condolence at www.lindfuneralhome.com.