Lt. Col. Thomas Nelson Walker, USAF, (Retired), age 86 of Forest City

Lt. Col. Thomas Nelson Walker, USAF, (Retired), age 86 of Forest City, died Wednesday, November 20, 2024.

Tom was born November 29, 1937 in Ellenboro, NC and was a son of the late Clarence and Estelle Proctor Walker. He was a graduate of Ellenboro High School and three years later, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. After basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas he was transferred to Chanute AFB in Illinois to Weather Observer School where he was an honor graduate. His first assignment was at Sondrestrom AFB, Greenland as a weather observer for aircraft operations.

In 1963 he married LaVerne Gibson of Henrietta, and they began a life together raising two children and traveled to many duty stations throughout the US and Europe, including Myrtle Beach AFB, Shaw AFB SC, Alconbury, England, Weisbaden and Sembach AFB in Germany, Scott AFB Il, England AFB LA, Randolph AFB TX and Headquarters Air Weather Service Scott AFB IL.

Tom was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Forest City.

Tom was a member of the Forest City Kiwanis Club where he had 20 years' perfect attendance. He served on the Forest City Housing Authority Board, as well as other city committees, was a board member of the Rutherford County Historical Society, and was instrumental in helping restore the Town Clock. Tom was also a proud McNair Mentor in the Rutherford County Schools.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, LaVerne Gibson Walker, his brothers, Bobby Walker, P.D. Walker, and Herbert Walker, and his sister, Janie Walker Higgins.

Survivors include his son, James Gregory Walker and wife Rosie of Seguin, TX, his daughter, Wendy Walker Vanecek and husband Jim of Forest City, his brother, Joel Walker and wife Catherine of Ruth, his grandchildren, Andy Walker, Charlie Walker, Alex Vanecek, and Leah Foster, as well as two great-grandchildren, Jaxon and Monroe Foster.

A Memorial service will be held at 2pm Monday, December 9 in the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Curtis Goforth officiating. Military honors will be accorded on the front lawn of the church following the service. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall after the service.

The family requests that memorials in his memory be made to First United Methodist Church, 341 E. Main St., Forest City, NC 28043

An online guest registry is available at wwwpadgettking.com.

Padgett~King Mortuary and Crematory is serving the family.