JOSEPH RAYMOND WALKER

1947 - 2025

Joseph Raymond Walker, 77, of Muncy, passed from this Earth the morning of Father's Day on Sunday, June 15, 2025. He was born in Wellsboro on July 18, 1947, to Joseph D. and Louise T. Walker. The Perry Como song famous that year, "Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep)", helped give him the family nickname of Cha-Bob, that lasted throughout his lifetime.
Surviving, in addition to his wife Linda, are many family members who loved him and will miss him. Daughters, Heather Walker, Hughesville; and Holly Walker (Greg Kramer), Lock Haven; stepdaughter, Brandy Stetts, Muncy; stepson Bryan Stetts, Lewisburg; three granddaughters, Emma, Catie, and Molly Peters; three step-granddaughters, Kiersten, Madison, and Brooklyn Stetts; his two sisters and brothers-in-law; Pamela and Dan Shipe, Wellsboro; and Amy and Mark Murdough, Pine City, N.Y. He is also survived by his niece, Alex and her husband, Josh; as well as his great-niece, Olivia, who came into this world on the day he left, bringing a ray of sunshine and happiness to her family! In addition to those family members, he is also survived by many loving cousins scattered throughout the country.
He was predeceased by his parents and his brother and sister-in-law, Allen and MaryAnn Walker, of Mansfield. By now he has reunited with them and with his beloved border collie, Chase; we are sure that they are playing lots of frisbee together in Heaven!
As a wee lad, Joe worked at the family farm and dairy store, Morris Farms, in Mansfield. He graduated from Mansfield High School in 1965 and then worked several construction jobs before joining the United States Navy Seabees. He honorably served his country during two tours of Vietnam and earned the Purple Heart, though he never spoke much about that time of his life. He went to the Police Academy and began his career as a police officer in Tioga, Pennsylvania. Joe began working as an officer for the Hughesville Police Department in 1976. During his tenure in Hughesville, he taught part-time at both Lycoming College and Mansfield University. Joe also worked at the Lycoming County 911 Center, as a dispatcher.
During the 1980's, Joe was active in his favorite sport of baseball, playing and managing for both the Hughesville Travelers and the Picture Rocks Rockets baseball teams. He was also a coach for the American Legion Post 35 baseball team. He is remembered fondly by his former teammates and players. He was also active in bowling leagues at Cloverleaf Lanes, in Muncy. His daughter, Heather, has fond memories of times spent with him at the baseball fields and bowling alley, as well as watching baseball games together, while sitting on the porch and eating pbj crackers. At times throughout his life, Joe was a member of the Susquehanna Valley Lodge of the Federal Order of Police, the Masonic Lodge #299 in Muncy, the American Legion Post 35 in Hughesville, and Veterans of the Vietnam War Post 51.
He worked his way up through the ranks and retired from the Hughesville Police Department as Police Chief in December 2003, after 27 years of service.
He continued to work after his retirement from the police force. He worked as a Constable, and then as a courier for the law offices of Lepley, Engleman, & Yaw. He also worked as a Tipstave at the Lycoming County Courthouse. Joe "officially" retired from a life of public service in 2020.
During his retirement years, he was passionate about riding his bike every day and would sometimes ride up to 100 miles a month or more throughout the year. He enjoyed going to bike paths and trails in the area and riding on the back roads between Muncy and Hughesville. He often rode bike with his daughter, Holly, who will treasure those times, even though he could outride her every day of the week! Joe also enjoyed digging through the family history and genealogy, going all the way back to Scotland. He loved all things Scottish and even enjoyed a "wee dram" of good Scotch or a Rusty Nail on special occasions. He loved listening to music, especially the pipes and drums of a good Scottish band. He once said that if he could travel anywhere, he would go to Scotland so he could see the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Joe was very proud of his granddaughters and was excited to see Emma and Catie graduate from high school. He knew his youngest granddaughter, Molly, was planning to start the Criminal Justice program at LycoCTC, which also made him a proud grandpa.
His family will be having a private service to celebrate Joe's life (perhaps with bagpipe music and a wee dram in his memory) and his ashes will be interred next to his parents, at the family plot in Oakwood Cemetery in Mansfield. A military plaque will be installed at his final resting place.