Obituary of Walter Ray Wilkerson

Walter Ray Wilkerson July 21, 1935 - July 25, 2017 WALTER RAY WILKERSON, was born 21 July 1935, Hope, Lavaca Co., TX, to Willie Carl & Amanda Abigail (Collins) Wilkerson. He died on 25 July 2017 in La Porte, Texas. Walt grew up in Galveston, TX, where he started Kindergarten at Sam Houston Elementary. He went to Stephen F. Austin Junior High & graduated from Ball High School in 1953. Having entered the field of Electronics at the age of 14, he continued in that vocation for over 50 years. For several years, he and his roller skating partner, Patsy Doherty, performed exhibitions in the Galveston & Houston areas. In 1954, he moved to Texas City and met Sue Howard. They were married 8 June 1955 in the First Baptist Church of Texas City. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Abilene, TX & lived there 12 years. Walt owned & operated Walt’s Radio & TV. He was active in the Optimist Club & Ham Operators’ Club. Their two children, Julia Charlene & Edward Earl “Eddie”, were born in Abilene. In 1967, he went to work with Brown & Root at NASA and the family moved to Pasadena, TX; later he returned to electronics. In 1978, he, Sue & Eddie moved to San Antonio, TX, where he managed a wholesale parts house, Electrotex, for 23 years. Retiring in 2000, he & Sue moved to La Porte to be near the children and grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, flying, photography, movies, games, square dancing & coaching little league baseball. He was a ham radio operator for years and his call was K5JOV. Walt loved his time growing up in Galveston and continued to meet monthly with childhood friends and classmates. Walt is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sue, his daughter, Charlene and husband Brad Burton, his son Eddie and wife Wanda Wilkerson, his grandchildren, Amber and husband Scott Lausch, Blake Burton, Chris and wife, Lindsay Wilkerson, and Kyle and wife, Mandy Wilkerson. He loved showing off his great grandchildren Riley Lausch, Alyssa Lausch, Aiden Wilkerson, Brianna Lausch, and Aria Wilkerson. He is also survived by his brother, Weldon and wife Marjorie Wilkerson, and numerous nephews, nieces, relatives, and close friends. A memorial service for Walt Wilkerson will be held on August 5, 2017.The family will receive friends beginning at 1pm with the memorial service beginning at 2pm and officiated by Reverend Kevin Kissell and Pastor Ronnie Jordan at the Paul U. Lee LaPorte Funeral Home chapel.