Joseph Samuel Walker

Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville announces the death of Mr. Joseph Samuel Walker, who went home to be with his Lord Jesus on Wednesday, December 20th, 2017. Joe was born in Memphis, Tennessee on September 23rd, 1930, the son of Joseph James Walker and Loretta Knoll Walker. Joe served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He retired after thirty years as a chief officer with the Miami-Dade Fire Department in Dade County, Florida. Fighting fires, protecting property and saving lives was his calling and his nature. He first came to Blairsville on July 4th, 1968 on a camping trip at Track Rock Campground with his wife and children. He loved the mountains and the people of this area and decided to make it home after retirement. He and his wife Joyce came to Blairsville on January 16th, 1983. He was born again on January 23rd, 1983 at Choestoe Baptist Church where he served as a choir member, Sunday School teacher and Brotherhood Chairman. He has continued to serve the Lord since that day. He was a member of the House of Prayer Interdenominational Church where he has served as Sunday School teacher, on the missions committee, benevolence committee and as a deacon. He had been a Gideon since 1986 and has served as camp president, chaplain, scripture secretary, card chairman, and prison ministry chairman. He has been an accomplished artist since 1949 and also enjoyed salt water fishing and woodworking. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Loretta Walker; brother, Ernest Richard Walker; sisters: Eleanor Bonham and Lois Phelps; and son, Joseph James Walker.

Joe was a faithful husband, loving father and grandfather. He was a special person and will be greatly missed by all who knew him and especially missed by his family: his loving wife of
67 years, Joyce Bush Walker; daughter, Janet Walker Love and her husband Rick of Orlando, Florida; sons: Richard Michael Walker and his wife Patricia of Orlando; and John Robert Walker and his wife Ellen of Florence, Kentucky. Also surviving are seven grandchildren: James Love and his wife Victoria; Grace Love, Jacob Love, Joshua Walker and his wife Brittany; Megan Winkler and her husband Will, Jordan Walker, and Caleb Walker; and great-grandchildren: James, Ryan and Elizabeth Love, McCrae Walker, Liam Winkler and Alwyn Winkler.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 23, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at House of Prayer Church with Pastor Jerry Helton officiating with music by House of Prayer Church Choir. Pallbearers are Dennis Bible, Skip Walker, Jerry Rich, Jim Powell, Albert Davenport, and Jack Dugger. The family will meet with friends at the House of Prayer Church starting at 12 noon before the service begins. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family requests donations in Joe's memory be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 521, Blairsville, Georgia 30514.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory. Please share your condolences and fond memories with the family on our website, www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.