NORWICH – John D. Walker Sr., 93, of Eric Street, Norwich, passed away Monday morning, Dec. 18, 2006 at his home following a long illness.
Born to John Stafford Walker and Ann Sophie Rogers Walker, John was born on Sept. 16, 1913 on Prince Edward Island, Canada. He attended elementary school in Canada, but moved to the United States during those years and finished high school in Sidney. John then attended Ohio State University, graduated on June 15, 1936, and began his career with the Norwich Pharmacal Company’s credit department on June 22. He and his wife of 66 years, Emily Jean Bond Walker, were married in Sidney on Aug. 1, 1939, and John moved up to the Norwich Pharmacal Company’s sales department on Jan. 1, 1941. During his short time there, he doubled sales for the area, but left when he was inducted into the U.S. Army on Feb. 20, 1943. John served his country in the 97th Infantry Division in LeHavre, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Czechoslovakia, as part of Patton’s 3rd Army. He returned to the United States on May 8, 1945, only to be sent to Japan after the dropping of the atomic bombs. John received his honorable discharge on Feb. 24, 1945, and rejoined the Norwich Pharmacal Company. After a successful sales career in New York, he was transferred to Needham, Mass. to manage the New England territory, and was transferred again in 1960 to Hudson, Ohio. During his career, he held the record for sales of Norwich aspirin to K-Mart.
John was very involved with the Norwich community during his years here. He served one term as City of Norwich Supervisor from 1980 through 1983. He was actively involved in the Republican party in Norwich, and the American Cancer Society, was a volunteer for many years at Chenango Memorial Hospital and had worked in the Pink Pantry, and served for several years as a Deacon for the United Church of Christ.
John is survived by his wife, Emily Walker of Norwich; by his son, John D. Walker Jr. and wife Claire of Columbia, Md., and their children Courtney, Tim, Molly and Andy; by his daughter, Susan Caputo and husband Anthony (Nouch) of Norwich and their son Eddie; by his niece, Nancy Bond of Syracuse; and by his special cat, Noel. He was predeceased by his sisters, Louise Ellis and Florence Guta.
Funeral services for John will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday from the United Church of Christ First Congregational of Norwich. The Rev. Joseph Connolly, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, John’s family has requested memorial contributions be sent to the National Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, 801 Roeder Road, Suite 750, Silver Springs, MD 20910.
Arrangements are by the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home.