John David Walker

John David Walker, a devoted husband, father, friend and lifelong explorer of both the world and the mind, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025, at the age of 86.
Born in Sweetwater, Texas on June 3, 1939, to Virginia Grace Rogers and Oscar Joel Walker, John spent his early years in West Texas; his family moved to Lubbock in 1940. There, he would go on to earn both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Physics from Texas Tech University - an early reflection of his boundless curiosity and sharp intellect.
John built a long and rewarding career as a geophysicist, a field he truly loved. His work took him around the world - from Algeria's Sahara Desert to the jungles of Colombia, to Argentina and England - and he brought home stories as vivid as the places themselves.
He spent most of his professional years in Houston, Texas, where he was respected for his technical expertise and quiet passion for discovery. Reluctantly, he retired at age 75, having never lost his enthusiasm for the work.
In his personal life, John was known for his humor, curiosity, and adventurous spirit. His lifelong friendship with Steven Ussach led to decades of remarkable travels-to Cuba, Israel, Portugal, Turkey, Venezuela, Guyana, Albania, Macedonia, and countless less-traveled corners of the globe. John traveled as a true observer of the world: without reservations, without an itinerary, and without a cell phone. He moved through each place with an easy, go-with-the-flow openness that led to serendipitous discoveries. Together, he and Steve embraced the unfamiliar and returned home with laughter, unforgettable tales, and a few close calls that quickly became family legend.
John was an avid reader and historian, especially fascinated by the Civil War and both World Wars. His encyclopedic memory and love of knowledge made him a formidable Trivial Pursuit opponent - a man who could, quite literally, fill a pie in one turn. His passion for geography and world affairs was unmatched; if given a blank map, he could have labeled nearly every country, capital city, river, and mountain range from memory.
Politics was another great passion of John's. He and his wife, Emily, were deeply engaged in civic life, block walking, working the polls, and staying active in their neighborhood's political community.
John was also a man who loved life's simple pleasures - family dinners, spirited debates, and the joy of a good TV series (he was eagerly awaiting season two of Landman).
Even in their 80s, John and Emily could be found out dancing together, laughing, and living fully.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Mary "Emily" Walker; his daughter, Maya Rachel Walker (and partner Timothy Hoener); and his son, David Conrad Walker. He also leaves behind his nephews, Jon Michael Walker and Mark Steven Walker and the Ussach daughters (Sarina, his Goddaughter and Helicia), with whom he created a deep bond through shared travels.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Virginia and Oscar Walker, and his brother, William M. Walker, who passed away in 2017. He also held deep affection for his extended family - including his brother-in-law and close friend Joe Riley Deese, and sister-in-law Julia Francis Moore, with whom countless holidays and memories were shared.
John was not ready to leave this world; there was more he wanted to see, read, debate, and discover. But he leaves behind a legacy of love, intellect, laughter, and adventure - and the memory of a man who was, as his best friend Steve once said, "the most agreeable man I've ever known."