Notes |
- Obituary:
PROMINENT CITIZEN OF TITUSVILLE DIES
-------
John R. Walker, Father of George Walker of This City Is Claimed By Death
-------
TITUSVILLE, Aug. 5 - Funeral services for John R. Walker, president of the local civic league, and one of the most prominent citizens of Brevard county, who died suddenly Thursday night, will be held here Sunday afternoon. Mr. Walker, who was 58 years old, had held numerous municipal and county offices since coming here from South Carolina 34 years ago.
He had served as county school superintendent, chairman of the board of county commissioners, and mayor of Titusville Beach Company. He had presided at a meeting of the Civic League Thursday night and jocularly complained of the heat but appeared in his usual good health. He died a few minutes after returning home from the meeting. Death was caused by the bursting of a blood vessel near the heart.
Mr. Walker, who was prominent in various fraternal organizations, is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Hester Elizabeth Swain of Titusville, three sons and a daughter.
-------
Son in Miami
George Walker of Miami is a son of the deceased, and another son, Charles Walker, is residing in Boston, Mass. Mr. Walker was well known in Florida as the "father of the league" which was organized to build a bridge across the Indian river, connecting Titusville with the ocean, and to build a road to Orlando and another to Orsino on Merritt Island. The people ratified Mr. Walker's idea at the polls, voting the bods for the proposed improvements, and it is a marked coincidence that on the day of his death the Brevard county commissioners let the contract for the bridge and roads which he conceived.
(Published in The Miami Herald on August 5, 1921)
- Obituary:
Sudden Death of Titusville's Most Prominent Citizen Last Wednesday Night
Was President of the Titusville Civic League, Postmaster of Titusville Six Years and Prominent in Fraternal Organizations
Every heart-beat of the late John Randall Walker was for the good of the people and the benefit of this community. He was Titusville's first citizen.
Before the Titusville Civic League meeting was called to order Wednesday night by President John R. Walker he joked with friends about the heat, but appeared in his usual good health. As a presiding officer he was a model, and he never appeared to better advantage than Wednesday night. An hour after the meeting he was dead, dying ten minutes after he reached his home. Dr. Stephens, who was called immediately, said death was caused by a burst blood vessel in the vicinity of the heart.
Mr. Walker was 58 years old; was born in Beaufort, S.C., July 27, 1863. He came to Titusville 34 years ago, and was married in 1889 to Hester Elizabeth Swain. He leaves his widow and three sons and one daughter: Chas. N. Walker of Boston, George R. Walker of Miami, Hans T. Walker of Fort Myers and Mrs. D. B. Chappelle of Punta Rossa; and one brother, Wm. R. Walker of South Jacksonville.
Funeral services will be held at 3:30 Sunday afternoon.
At the time of his death Mr. Walker was superintendent of the Baptist Sunday-school and president of the Titusville Civic League; and on the night of his death was elected president of the Titusville Beach Co. He was postmaster of Titusville six years, resigning on July 1. He also served the people as county school superintendent, chairman of the board of county commissioners and mayor of Titusville.
Mr. Walker was especially prominent in fraternal organizations -- was a deputy grand chancellor in the Knights of Pythias, a Shriner and Knight Templar in the Masons, a past noble grand in the Odd Fellows, and a past council commander in the Woodmen of the World.
(Published in The Star Advocate on August 5, 1921)
|