Obituary of Herman Walker

Herman V. Walker passed away Saturday, March 19, 2011, after a courageous battle with cancer after being diagnosed on February 17, 2011.He was born February 3, 1923, at Coal Mountain, West Virginia, the son of Verlin E. Walker and Etta Mae West. When he was 5 weeks old, his mother died in a hospital in Huntington, West Virginia. He was reared by his maternal grandparents, Greenville âGreenâ West and Vida Jane Morgan West. He attended Oceana High School for 3 years and then graduated from Baileysville High School. He graduated from West Virginia University with a B.S. degree in 1950, and a M.A. degree in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946 and held the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served overseas on Guam and the Mariana Islands with the 901st Signal Company. He was awarded various medals for his service.Mr. Walker was Protestant by faith and was a former member of the Lower Cub Missionary Baptist Church. He was a public school teacher for 23 years, having taught at Iaeger and Bruceton High Schools, and Osage, Sabraton, Cassville and South Junior High Schools. Many former students recognized him in public and would praise him as the best teacher they ever had.He served on Morgantown City Council and as Mayor in 1959. Many of Morgantownâs major projects were underwritten or finished during his service on council, including the sewage treatment plant, swimming pool, tennis courts, Deckers Creek Interceptor Sewer Project, public library and airport improvement. He also served as Monongalia County Clerk and was appointed Postmaster of Morgantown. After approximately 6 years of service, he resigned and returned to his greatest enjoyment, teaching.He was a former governor of the Moose Lodge and served one term as State Prelate. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post 548. He is an honorary member of the West Virginia Air National Guard Association. He belonged to local, state and national education associations. He was commissioned as âAmbassador of Goodwillâ for the State of West Virginia by the late A. James Manchin, Secretary of State. He was an inductee into the Baileysville High School Hall of Fame. He served as co-chairman of the John F. Kennedy Campaign for President in 1960 for Monongalia County.After retiring, Mr. Walker was a volunteer at the Soup Kitchen for 8 years. Health problems forced him to quit work. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and watching WVU football games. He also loved spending time with his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Eva DeVincent Walker, and three children, James (and Marsha) Walker of Logan, West Virginia, and Fleming Island, Florida, Michael âMikeâ (and Mary) âWalker of Morgantown, and Donna Privett of Morgantown, and the following grandchildren, Teresa Tillson, Crystaland Adam Dalton,Amber Walker, Nicole Walker, Tony Walker, Alicia Walker, and one great granddaughter, Amanda Luzader. He is also survived by his step-grandchildren, John (and Trista) Petroff of Harts, West Virginia , and Jennifer (and Brian) White of Barboursville, West Virginia, and their children, Ethan White and Hudson White. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews, and one aunt, Neva West Johnson of Matheny, West Virginia, and an uncle and foster brother, Oscar West, of Clear Fork, West Virginia, and his children, Stanley West and Joyce Smith, also of Clear Fork as well as his faithfully K-9 companion, âSassyâ.He was preceded in death by a sister, Irene Walker, who died in infancy.Family and friends will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce Street, Morgantown, Monday, March 21 from 2-4 and 5-7p.m. and from 10-10:30a.m.on Tuesday, March 22. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home at 10:30a.m.Tuesday with Pastor Al Cooper officiating. Burial will follow in East Oak Grove Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by V.F.W. 548 and WVANG Military Funeral Honor, Camp Dawson, Kingwood at the cemetery. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Monongalia Unit, 122 S. High St., Morgantown, WV 26505