Hugh Palmer Walker

Hugh Palmer Walker (Dec. 30, 1932- July 17, 2018 ) 85, went to serve the Lord after a lengthy illness that he faced courageously. Palmer was born in Woodville Florida to John C. and Annie Hazel Register Walker. Palmer attended grade school in Woodville and later attended Leon High School where he participated in Varsity Football and played both offense & defense on the 1950 NEC Championship team. While in grade school he met Martha Lee Fewell and they were the Halloween King and Queen for 1947. They began dating when he was 15 and she was 13 and were married on Aug. 5 1953 in Woodville then subsequently moved to Tallahassee. His first job was as a proof reader for the Tallahassee Democrat until he said “I received that letter” and served in the US Army during the Korean War. Though he wasn’t deployed overseas he served as a Field Medic and was awarded medic of the year for 1953 and was always proud to show off his trophy. Once out of the service he was employed at WS Lee Company for 33 years as a commercial hardware consultant and estimator. Afterward he operated Walker Hardware & Contracting for the next 10 years until his retirement. Palmer was a sports enthusiast and enjoyed coaching in youth league sports through the City of Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Department where he coached both Pee Wee & Junior football for the Caroline Brevard Yellow Jackets and was coach of the year for 1968 which was the year they won the championship. Most practices he ended by allowing a player to tell a good joke. He also coached the Little League & Babe Ruth League baseball teams of Concrete Products & Independents winning a Championship with Concrete Products. One of Palmers hobbies included playing softball with various City League teams. He was a member of the Tallahassee Capitals baseball team which was a local semi pro team that toured the Southeast. He was dedicated to weight training his entire adult life and was a member of various gyms in Tallahassee including Cliffs Gym, Gold’s Gym and most recently Momentum Fitness. He wasn’t much into modern work out machines and regularly stated “I’m a free weights man”. In his later years he participated in the Capital City Senior Games organized by the Tallahassee Parks & Recreation Department where he competed in the track & field and power lifting events. Over the years he won a total of 18 Gold Medals and at age 84 deadlifted 225 pounds for Gold. He had a great admiration for the workers and volunteers of the Capital City Senior Games especially Cindy Meade the event organizer. The family would like to express our appreciation to Dr. Greg Perry and his entire staff for their care, support and concern. They certainly set the bar for the medical profession in patient care and follow up with family. Additionally would like to recognize the entire professional staff and the many good hearted residents of the St Augustine Plantation Assisted Living Facility where Palmer enjoyed his final years, especially the ice cream and Karaoke. They lived up to their motto by treating us all as family, their concern was genuine and their care was thorough and professional. Later on members of Covenant Hospice stepped in to add comfort measures for Palmer and they communicated with the family and assisted in decision making for his health care. Palmer is preceded in death by his wife of 57 years Martha, father John C. Walker and mother Annie Hazel Register Walker, brother John Cornelius Walker. He is survived by 3 sons, Hugh Park (Donna Kay), Tracy Lane & Michael Gene, 2 grandsons, Daniel Hampton and Troy Walker, great granddaughter Layla Walker. Services will be private at his request. In lieu of flowers please participate and/or support the Capital City Senior Games. Kelly Barber of Bevis Funeral Home in Tallahassee (850/385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the Walker family with their arrangements.

Tributes

Hugh Palmer Walker

December 30, 1932 - July 17, 2018