Mr Joseph Walker Jr.

COLUMBIA - Joseph Walker, Jr. was born in Columbia, S.C. on September 12th, 1912. He was the oldest son of the late Joseph and Claudia Moore Sadler Walker. He was educated in the city schools of Columbia and graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1934. After graduation Mr. Walker joined Joseph Walker & Co. Cotton Merchants, a firm founded by his father in 1923, and with the exception of five years duty with the Army in World War II was active with this company as a partner and then managing partner until retirement in 1983. He was a former member of the New York Cotton Exchange, the New Orleans Cotton Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade, and former President of the Atlantic Cotton Association, Director of the National Cotton Council, and the American Cotton Shippers Association. As the involvement of the United States in World War II became imminent, Mr. Walker enrolled with his brother, Robert, in the Maryland National Guard in 1940 and was called to active duty on February 3rd, 1941 as a Second Lieutenant assigned to the 176th Infantry Regiment (the old 1st Virginia) of the 29th Division. After Pearl Harbor, the regiment was detached from the 29th Division for special assignments which included ceremonial duties in Washington, D.C. and later to school troops at the Infantry School of Fort Benning, GA. He was later assigned to the 10th Mountain Division and subsequently went overseas to the Italian Theater. The Division participated in the Appenine Mountain and Po Valley campaigns. Joseph was awarded the Bronze Star for his involvement in these campaigns. He was sent to the Command and General Staff School and on graduation in December 1945 was separated from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. On return from duty with the Army, Mr. Walker returned to work with Joseph Walker & Company and also became President of the real estate investment firm Forest Hills, Inc. In this capacity he effected the purchase of The Standard Warehouse Company, merging the two companies in 1962 to form Standard Corporation. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Corporation until his retirement in 1986. He was also President of Richfair Holdings, Inc., a real estate holding company. Mr. Walker was a trustee of Presbyterian College for nine years, a former Director and a member of the Commission of the Columbia Museum of Art and a former member and President of the Columbia Cotillion Club. Other club memberships included Forest Lake Club, The Rotary Club of Columbia, DeBordieu Club, the Palmetto Club and the Summit Club. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1925 and formerly served the church as President of the Church Corporation and for many years as a Deacon. Mr. Walker is survived by his wife, Helen Jackson Walker; his son, James H. Walker and daughter-in-law, Jennifer C. Walker, three grandchildren, James H. Walker, Jr., Charlotte L. Walker and Joseph B. Walker; and three brothers, Claude M. Walker, John S. Walker and Felix D. Walker. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Carolina Children�s Home or the charity of one�s choice. Graveside services will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in First Presbyterian Church Cemetery followed by visitation in Jackson Hall. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.