Tom Walker, 84 & Sheila Walker, 85

TomWalker, 84

& Sheila Walker, 85

Tom and Sheila Walker, formerly of Fort Wayne, Ind., passed away peacefully under the gentle and loving care of the Sioux Falls Avera Hospice Team. Sheila Lee Hall Walker, 85, died Dec. 22, 2020 in the Bethany Home, Brandon. Larry Thomas “Tom” Walker, 84, died Jan. 2, 2021 at the Dougherty Hospice House, Sioux Falls.

A private family memorial is planned for Aug. 2, 2021 in Bryan, Ohio. Sheila will be inurned in the Fountain Grove Cemetery, Bryan. Tom will be inurned in the Farmer Cemetery, Farmer, Ohio. 

Sheila was born Oct. 11, 1935 in Owensboro, Ky., to Virgil Lee Hall and Regina Gillison Hall. She attended schools in Owensboro, Ky., Anderson, Ind., and graduated in 1954 from Bryan High School, Bryan. She worked as a librarian, secretary, taught Sunday school, served as a Girl Scout leader, and was co-owner of their photography business, Walker’s Studio. She was an active member of the Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne. She attended Beaver Valley Lutheran Church in Brandon.

Tom was born Feb. 15, 1936 in the family home in Bryan to Gale Cleo Walker and Ilo Larue Buda Walker. He attended school K-12 in Bryan, and graduated from Bryan High School in 1954. He then attended the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y., to study photography. Tom pub-lished his first photo at age 9, and knew at that time photography would be his life’s work. He worked as a painter, factory worker, commercial photographer, and was co-owner of Walker’s Stu-dio.

Tom and Sheila were married Oct. 28, 1956 in the First Lutheran Church of Bryan. They moved to Fort Wayne so Tom could pursue his passion for professional photography. In 1962 they opened their own professional photography studio, Walker’s Studio, in Fort Wayne. Together, and against great odds, they successfully competed with other small and large photography businesses by provid-ing high quality photographs and building a loyal multigenerational customer base. They were in business for 45 years, finally retiring completely in 2010.

Sheila worked tirelessly to run the studio and raise the family in the early years. After the children were launched, she discovered the artistic part of her soul. Sheila learned to paint and created many beautiful canvases and projects. Painting images of Santa Claus was her specialty. She revived her knitting skills and produced amazing knitted goods and dozens of prayer shawls. 

Tom was a lifelong fisherman; we rarely find a picture of him without a stringer of fish in his hands. He was a gun collector and World War II history buff. He never walked by a photograph that he did not judge for quality and creativity. He enjoyed sharing his experience and knowledge with other photographers. 

Tom and Sheila had three daughters and one son, Pamela (Ray) Byram, Brandon, Penni (Doug) Flinn NS Kristine (Bob) Reger, all of Louisville, Ky., and Kary (Jennifer) Walker of Fort Wayne; grand-children, Douglas Flinn Jr., Kourtney Hester, Kelsey (Brandon) Davis, Megan (Ryan) Quast, Tyler Byram, Kody (Bailey Alexander) Walker, Michael Reger, Kariann Reger, Isabella Walker, and Olivia Walker; great-grandsons, Ryland Hester, Konnor Hester, Robbie Quast, River Walker, Harrison Da-vis, and Riggs Walker. 

Sheila is survived by her sisters, Thelma Taylor and Ann Hummel; niece; Gina Bacon, nephew, Jim Hummel; and sister-in-law, Carol Walker.

Preceding her in death were her parents, and dear brother-in-law, Jack Walker.

Tom is survived by his sister, Mary Lue Phillips; sister-in-law, Carol Walker; nieces, Debby Phillips, Lori Gagnon, Susan Henson, Beth VonSeggern; and nephews, Scott Phillips and Christopher Walker.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Sheila; parents, brother, Jack Walker; brother-in-law, Dick Phillips; and nephew, Steve Phillips.

We are all grateful to have had them in our lives for so long. Their greatest joy was their 10 grand-children and six great-grandchildren. There are so many good memories. We thank our extended family and friends for their love and support. 

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The Brandon Valley Journal

 

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