Emma Simpson Walker

Emma Simpson Walker, age 81 of White Pine, passed away at her home on Thursday, March 19, 2015. Born on May 29, 1933 in Mt Pleasant, NY to Burton and Mary Simpson, she graduated from Kerhonkson High School in 1950. Emma graduated from Kingston Hospital School of Nursing in 1954. Later that year, on October 29 she married the love of her life, William R. Walker. She retired after 42 years of nursing. Bill and Emma were the owners of Walker Shoe Store in Keyser, WV. After Emma retired, she enjoyed working at Dollywood. Over the years she was active in several organizations such as Kiwanis Club, Lion’s Club, First United Methodist Women, Red Hat Ladies and the Ladybirds Barbershop Harmony Chorus. She and Bill were also avid bowlers. Emma is preceded in death by her husband, William R. Walker; sister, Beverly Krum and her parents, Burton and Mary Simpson. She is survived by her children: William R. Walker, Jr. and wife Denise, of White Pine, TN; Judy Walker and Brian Vincent of Madison, NC; Elizabeth McDowell and husband William of Cresaptown, MD; Robert Walker and wife Susan of Charlotte, NC and Deborah Bowman and husband Glenn of White Pine, TN. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, as well as her sister Marion Sheeley and brother, Ernest Simpson. A Celebration of Life Service is scheduled for Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 7 p.m. at Freedom Fellowship in White Pine with the Rev. David Barnett and Rev. Jim Price officiating. Family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. at the church. A graveside inurnment service will be held at a later date in West Virginia, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society: Attention: Mary Ellen Darby, 1321 Laurel Hills Circle, Jefferson City, TN 37760, or the American Diabetes Association: 900 E. Oak Hill Ave., Suite 240, Knoxville, TN 37915. Keyser, WV arrangements: A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 4 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church in Keyser, WV with the Rev. Sherrill Dillon officiating. The family will receive friends from 2 – 4 p.m. at the church.