Charles Osborne Walker M.D.

1936 - 2020

WALKER MD., Charles Osborne Charles Osborne Walker MD, born April 25th, 1936 in St Louis, Missouri to William Spurlock Walker and Kathleen Osborne Walker passed away on August 10th, 2020 in Austin, Texas. He is survived by his loving wife, Judith "Judy" Lovejoy Walker, originally of Dallas, Texas. They were married for 62 years. He is survived by his brother Bill Walker of Harrison, Arkansas; by his children Brad William Walker and wife Linda of McKinney; daughter Andrea Michel and husband Jeff of Austin; and daughter Shannon Chambers and husband Curt of Austin. He is also survived by his grandchildren Eileen Hopkins, Brent Michel, Brian Walker, Courtney Chambers, Madeline Chambers and Garrett Chambers. Charles was preceded in death by his grandson Gregory Curtis Michel. Charles was a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin (BS Geology, 1959) and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas (MD, 1963) before completing medical training in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He was a Navy Lieutenant on active duty in Vietnam (1966-1968) and performed post-doctoral research at Southwestern Medical School. He became an Associate Professor of Medicine and was Chief of Gastroenterology at the Dallas Veterans Hospital. Charles went into private practice at Baylor University Medical Center (BUMC) in Dallas. He developed and led the BUMC hyperalimentation service and the BaylorFast bariatric program. He was a faculty member and mentored many BUMC residents and fellows. He founded Texas Digestive Disease Consultants. Charles was a lifelong athlete. In his youth he played baseball and football and ran track. As an adult he pursued mountain climbing, scuba diving and waterskiing. He was an avid tennis player and enjoyed playing piano. Charles loved history and nature. He and Judy raised Brangus cattle in Arkansas for many years. Judy and Charles retired to Arkansas in 1998, where he spent many happy years on his Bear Creek Ranch, entertaining his grandchildren and their assorted dogs with barbeques, boating trips and gator rides. He returned to Texas with Judy and his faithful dog Kelly in 2011 to spend his final years closer to family. A private burial is planned for the Remembrance Gardens in Austin. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's respite groups that Charles attended: The Gathering at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church (7127 Bee Cave Rd., Austin, TX 78746) and Bright Horizons at Emmaus Catholic Parish (1718 Lohman's Crossing Rd., Lakeway, TX 78734).