William Thomas Walker

1944 - 2023

William (Bill) Thomas Walker

April 5, 1944 - August 15, 2023

Connell, Washington - William Thomas "Bill" Walker, 79, of Connell, WA, passed away August 15, 2023, in Spokane, WA, surrounded by his family and much love.

He was born in Bremerton, WA, on April 5, 1944. The 1962 Bremerton East High grad reported in September to Camp Pendleton for basic training in the United States Marine Corp. (Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines) Bill always thought it was ironic that he survived cold weather training in the snow and ice and was then sent to the jungles of Vietnam. After his USMC service, he returned home with a Purple Heart and other medals, and enrolled at Olympic College.

Bill earned first-team all-conference honors at Olympic as a first baseman in 1967. He was recruited to play at Central Washington State College (now CWU) by the new coach, Gary Frederick, where he earned All-Evergreen Conference, All-Pacific Coast and honorable mention and second-team NAIA All-American honors in '68 and '69. CWU was ranked No. 3 and No. 7 while he was there. In 1968 at St. Joe, Missouri, CWU took 3rd at the NAIA championships. The team was later inducted into CWU's Hall of Fame. "Hot damn, Red." was a favorite saying after the team's time in St. Joe.

After playing for the semi-pro Kitsap Outsiders in 1972, Walker turned to teaching and coaching. His first teaching and coaching job was at Toledo High School, before moving on to teach, coach, and serve in North Franklin School District as athletic director and vice principal at Connell High School and later at Robert L. Olds Junior High School. In the early years at CHS, Bill was the driver's education teacher. He was a practical joker at heart. (Just talk to Mick Ewart about that!) He loved to embarrass the heck out of the novice drivers when he used the teacher's brake in the driver's ed car. Almost every student can recall a great memory of their favorite driver's ed teacher!

Bill attended many Wildcat baseball team reunions over the years, and he remained close with his coaches and teammates. So many great memories of their adventures and games. He was the third-winningest baseball coach in Washington state history (538-231), winning two state titles (1984 & 1992) and making three other Final Four appearances at state. A 1992 Washington State Baseball Coaches Association HOF inductee, and 1968 and 1969 team as well as individual Central Washington University hall of famer, he retired after 35 years of teaching and coaching, in 2005.

In 2007 Bill was inducted into the Kitsap County Hall of Fame. In June of 2022 Bill received the Frank Osborne Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington State Baseball Coaches Association. This was the last time he attended the All-State Baseball games and banquet. Bill rarely missed the yearly All-State Baseball games as a coach-participant or a spectator. He was proud to wear the green Hall Of Fame sweater and pose for pictures with all the other HOF members.

He lived with his wife, Patti, a NFSD teacher, in Connell, WA, where they enjoyed following high school sports and the Seattle Mariners. He loved driving his gator down to the baseball field, watching games, and dragging the field.

Patti and Bill were married on August 13, 1983, in Friday Harbor, WA, and they celebrated their 40th anniversary together in Spokane two days before he passed away.

Preceding Bill in death are his parents Russell Thomas and Violet (Nelson) Walker, sister Diane (Ralph) Anderson, brothers Dennis Walker and Russell B. (Poncho) Walker. Poncho was killed in action (KIA) in Vietnam in 1966.

Surviving family members are his wife Patti, son William Roy (Bill) and his wife Kimberly, daughter Kimberlee Christine (Kim) Newell and her husband Ben, and son Thomas Russell (Tom) and his wife Jennifer. Sister-in-law Carolyn Walker. Brother-in-Law Mike (Kim) Erickson, sister-in-law Diane (Eric) Jangard. Many nieces and nephews: Kim, Kristy, Kerri, Kyle, Scott, Kurt, Alex, Brooke, Kyle, Hank, and Luke. His first wife and mother of his three wonderful children, Lenore Knight Walker Kruger (Don). Grandchildren Carly (Nick) Mankus, Christopher (Taylor) Walker, Cameron Walker, Gator (Jimena) Newell, Gunnar (Madeline) Newell, Sierra Newell, Allison Walker (partner Jonathan Knippenberg), Ashley Walker (fiancé Andrew Campbell), and Adam Walker. Great-grandchildren Berkeley, Fletcher, Ellie, Hailey, Mason, and Gideon.

Semper Fi, Sergeant Walker. Fair winds and following seas. A celebration of his life will be held in Connell on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at 1:00 pm at the Connell High School Student Center. Please celebrate Bill's life with Seattle Mariner, plaid, and/or camo attire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Connell High School Baseball or the Washington State Baseball Coaches Association in his name.