John William Walker, Sr., 77, rural Altoona, died Friday, Aug. 27, 2010 at the Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha. He was born on Aug. 17, 1933 on a farm near Roper, the son of Louis and Lola Shoaf Walker.

John was a graduate of Altoona High School. On Nov. 3, 1951 John was united in marriage to Geraldine Helen Johnson in Huntsville, Ark. He and Jerri lived and raised their children east of Altoona where they lived for more than 58 years. He farmed, raised cattle, and also had a dairy farm. John had received his 50-year pin as a member of the Masonic Lodge #149 in Thayer. He served on the Altoona-Midway School Board, R.E.C. Board, Rural Water Board #10, and the ANW Co-Op.. He was awarded the Kansas Bankers Association Soil Consevation Award in 1990, was an FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer, and was named Volunteer of the Year for the Calvary Weslyan Church in 1993. John enjoyed gardening, raising cattle, woodworking, spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren and visiting with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Geraldine, of the home; three sons, John W. Walker, Jr., and wife, Martha, El Dorado, Russ Walker and wife, Mary Sue, Altoona, and Preston Walker and wife, Kim, Broken Arrow, Okla.; two daughters, Terri Dale and husband, Jeff, Chanute, and Lori “Buffy” Joyce and husband, Mike, Buffalo; one brother, L.H. Jr. Walker and wife, Betty, Thayer; a brother-in-law, Bob Stiles, Seattle, Wash.; a sister-in-law, Lenore Walker, Thayer; 13 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Ronnie and Maurice, five sisters, Mildred Watson, Elouise Shanks, Lydia Rupert, Esther Stiles and Darlene Walker and one granddaughter, Katherine Walker.

Funeral will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1 at Countryside Funeral Home, Fredonia. Interment will be at the Altoona Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 this evening. The family suggests contributions to the Kansas State University Children’s Research Center for Cancer and may be left in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 247, 420 S. 20th St., Fredonia, KS.

. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com.