Ronald Theodore Walker

Ronald Theodore Walker (aka Ronnie and Ron) began his journey on February 14, 1959, born to Theodore Walker and Lynette Hope Walker in Mobile, Alabama. He was the second of three children, including Sherrie and Kenneth (aka Kenny). He attended Mount Olive Baptist Church #1 from birth until the family moved to Sacramento, California, in 1965. He was
baptized at Shiloh Baptist Church, where he was active in the Children’s Choir, Sunday School, and Usher Board. He attended Freeport Elementary School, John Still Middle School, John F. Kennedy Senior High School, and Sacramento City College while in California. He played softball and football and ran track. He loved hanging around his neighbor, Bobby
Garrett, who was two years older than he was. Bobby was like a mentor who was heavily into sports. For Ronnie, sports was a way of getting the girls’ attention. 

When the family moved to Shalimar, Florida, in 1978, Ronnie moved instead to Mobile (Plateau), Alabama. There he got valuable wisdom from his grandparents, Robert and Zeola Hope. He received his Associate Degree from Bishop State Community College, Bachelor’s Degree from Alabama State University, and he received his Master of Divinity Degree from Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center located in Atlanta, Georgia. While living in Atlanta, he joined Mount Moriah Baptist Church in 1984, where he was ordained and became the youth minister for a number of years. He later joined Olivet Baptist Church in Fayetteville, GA, in the early 1990s. 

Ronnie became an employee of Delta Air Lines, Inc. July 8, 1996. He loved Delta and he loved his co-workers! They were like a family to him. The week before he died, his sister overheard him ask one of his co-workers, “Do you guys miss me?” with a great big smile on his face. His plan was to stay another 10 years at Delta.

Although Ronnie didn’t have any children, he loved them. In fact, he was a kid himself. Always playing, joking, laughing…you would have to actually ask yourself…“How old is he?” He would grab them, toss them up and down, chase them…he just acted like a big old kid…a big teddy bear. The children loved him, as well. As they grew into adults, they
continued to love him. 

He had a zeal to help others…to make them happy. He loved giving and surprising others. And he loved to make people laugh… “Hey are you ready. I’ve got something funny to tell you! You are going to like this one…it’s going to make you laugh.” He laughed at his own jokes. If you didn’t laugh, he’d say… “Well, I thought it was funny.”

Ronnie was very observant and his memory was impeccable. He remembered birthdays, anniversaries, and things that happened years ago. He was the family historian. 

Ronnie cherished his parents. He called them at least five days per week…just talking about anything…politics, sports, family, and what needed to be done in and around the house. He loved his sister and his brother and family. He adored his Aunt Mary in California, whom he talked to almost every morning. He loved Ashley, Bianca, and Heather Hope, who were like daughters to him. He valued his relationship with Tracey Haynes, who was always there for him through good and bad times. He adored Stacey Worthy and family. She was a little sister to him. And he loved Kathy Young and sons, Kallie and Travis. They were his second family in Atlanta. He spent precious time with them, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas when he couldn’t make it to Florida. Lastly, he loved his very best friend and co-worker, Alonzo Perry. We will miss his infectious smiles, laughs, hugs, jokes, and conversations.

He is survived by his father and mother, Theodore and Lynette Walker; sister, Sherrie; brother, Kenneth (Janet); nephew, Kenneth (Damaris); niece, Kanisha (Deion); great nephew, Kaleb Joshua; uncles, aunts, host of loving cousins and relatives, and many friends. 

A visitation will be held Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 12:00 noon followed by a funeral service at 1:00 p.m. both at Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, Florida 32073.

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