Wynona F. Walker

Wynona Foster Walker, 98, passed away at her home in the presence of family, February 22, 2023. She was born in Burkburnett, Texas on February 4, 1925. After graduating from Seymour High School in 1941, she initially completed business school and worked several jobs as a typist and secretary. Pursuing further education, Wynona attended Abilene Christian College, where she met the young Church of Christ preacher, John David Walker at a meeting of the Pickwickian Poetry Club. Nona and David graduated with bachelor's degrees in Literature, and then married in May of 1952. Wynona and her husband moved several times as David pursued a PhD. Wynona supported their growing family as an elementary teacher in Texas and a Social Worker in Florida. Their final move landed them in Binghamton, New York, in the winter of 1965. David became a professor of English Literature at Binghamton University and Wynona taught Kindergarten through fourth grade at Harry L. Johnson Elementary, for Johnson City Schools. After Wynona retired in 1983, a special arrangement from Binghamton University allowed David to participate in six BU London Semesters Abroad. Wynona and David were able to explore London as they had dreamed of during the lean times of their early married life. While based in London, they traveled extensively visiting the United Kingdom, India, Greece, Finland, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Sicily, Ireland, Scotland, Israel, Crete, all the middle European countries, and Egypt, cruising the Nile. Wynona was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, her daughter Shelley Elizabeth at age nine in 1969, and her granddaughter Kelly Jane Walker at age 15 in 2016. Also, her brother Ralph H. Foster of Texas and her sisters Juanita Jennings of Massachusetts and Amelia Myrick of Virginia. She is survived by her sister Molly Caskey of Albuquerque, and her four children: one son, David Dryden Walker of Colorado; and three daughters: Nike Molyneaux Crowley (Tim) St. Louis, Missouri, Juliet Berling (Stephen Gonya) of Binghamton, and Jennifer Stair (David) High Ridge, Missouri; four grandsons, Mark Molyneaux (Hope), Ian Berling, Jeff Berling, John David Berling; eight granddaughters, Shannon Howe (Tanner), Roxanne Berry (Daniel), Gwennyth Stair (Joseph Christen), Emily Stair, Sophia Stair, Anne Berling, and Kaily Walker (Jake Eaton); and five great-grand daughters, Quinn Howe, Camden Howe, Charlotte Berry, Josephine Eaton, and Maxine Eaton, and 2 great-grandsons Cole Howe and Jude Berry, all of whom loved and respected their Gramma Nona. Her many nieces and nephews in Texas, California, Tennessee, and Massachusetts were always in his thoughts. Wynona chose cremation and will be interred at Vestal Hills Memorial Park Tuesday, February 28 near her daughter Shelley and husband John David. Memorial Service will be held at Vestal Hills at 1p.m.the same day. Please join us at her home 143 Leroy, after the service. Contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders through their website at www.doctorswithoutborders.org. To forward condolences please visit jamccormack.com.
Of all the roads taken
on this life's journey,
the well-worn highways
and the clumsy overgrown trails;
Of all the secrets revealed
in this lifetime,
those we can share
and those we cannot;
And of all the gifts bestowed
over this life's harvest,
the ones we cherish deeply each day
and the ones we barely acknowledge;
Whether we live this life like a maniac
or a lover or a Buddhist;
Whether we claim a life of knowledge
or ignorance or innocence;
Whether we enjoy life's discernment
or disillusionment or carelessness;
The way home is Mother.
Mother is source and destination;
Mother is the hidden and the revealed,
the love, the beauty, the truth
that we are blessed to know in this world.
We are all on our way home,
each breath takes us closer
to where we began.
Part of me is with you already,
Part of me must remain
to navigate the way home for others.
I will be with you again, Mom.
With love for Mom,
Wynona Foster Walker
February 4, 1925 to February 22, 2023
May her memory be a Blessing.
-author Robert Rosenbaum