Francis C. Walker

"Industry, TX, Francis Chester Walker passed away peacefully in his sleep April 13, 2010, at his home in Industry, Texas, after a valiant battle against cancer. Frank was born April 27, 1926, in Medford Massachusetts. He was a hard-working man who began his career as a long-haul truck driver in New England at the age of 15. He was too young to drive legally, but in the middle of the depression he didn't let something as unimportant as a driver's license stop him from helping his family. After he married and moved to Chicopee, Massachusetts, Frank worked for Elm Oil & Asphalt and then spent many years as an owner/operator long-haul trucker. During his life he also drove a school bus and was dearly loved and respected by all the students on his route, and he owned his own trash hauling business in Belchertown, Massachusetts, where he moved his family in 1965. For Frank, retirement meant moving with Peg Walker, the love of his life for 56 years, to Ocala, Florida, to become caretaker and manager for a mobile home community. After he and Peg moved to Texas to be with their daughter, he finished out his working life mowing, pruning, and taking expert care of equipment at Paradox House Vineyard in Industry. A perfectionist, he wouldn't tolerate a job done poorly, couldn't wait to get to work each day, and regretted every "wasted" day he couldn't be on the job. In addition to his wife, Marguerite (Peg) Walker, he is survived by brother Bill Walker of Ocala, Florida; daughter Linda Rowlett and her husband Doug of Industry; daughter Barbara Lussier and her husband Robert Craig of Putnam, Connecticut; daughter Gale Miron and her husband Ken of Belchertown, Massachusetts; daughter Denise Catuogno and her husband Ray of Ludlow, Massachusetts; and son Francis C. Walker, Jr. and his wife Carol of Belchertown, Massachusetts. He is also survived by grandchildren Ellis Giles, Caswell Rowlett, Evan Rowlett, Marcus Lussier-Keilch, Gabriel Miron, Benjamin Miron, Christian Barthelette, Sarah Williams, Nicholas Walker, Jacob Walker, and Samuel Walker. His great grandchildren are Alden Giles, Meredith Giles, Anthony Brandwein, Richard Williams, Luis Ortiz, Cody Williams, Corrina Williams, Victoria Barthelette, Alexander Barthelette, and Devin Walker. Frank "got to Texas as soon as he could," but now he's ready to return home. God be with you, Frank. Visitation with his family will be Sunday, April 18 from 2-4 p.m. at Beers and Story Belchertown Funeral Home, 10 Maple St., (Rte. 202). The funeral will be on Monday, April 19 at 10 a.m. in the funeral home with burial to follow in South Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation in Frank Walker's name to your local hospice organization or to Hospice Brenham, http://www.hospicebrazosvalley.org. For online guestbook, please visit www.beersandstory.com "