Lt. Col. Thomas Nelson Walker, USAF, (Retired), age 86 of Forest City, died Wednesday November 20, 2024.

Tom was born on November 29, 1937 in Ellenboro, North Carolina and was a son of the late Clarence and Estelle Proctor Walker. He was a graduate of Ellenboro High School having graduated in the Class of 1956 and three years later, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in August of 1959. After basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas he was transferred to Chanute AFB in Illinois to Weather Observer School where he was an honor graduate. His first of many duty assignments was at Sondrestrom AFB, Greenland as a weather observer for aircraft operations.

In 1963 he married LaVerne Gibson of Henrietta, NC and they began a life together raising two children and traveled to many duty stations throughout the United States and Europe, including Myrtle Beach AFB , Shaw AFB SC, Alconbury, England, Weisbaden and Sembach AFB in Germany, Scott AFB Il, England AFB LA, Randolph AFB TX and Headquarters Air Weather Service Scott AFB IL. She supported him during 20 moves and 30 out of 34 years of his career in the Air Force.

Following retirement, he and LaVerne moved back to Forest City and began an active life together in both church and civic service. Tom was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Forest City, where he was a Sunday School Teacher and member of the Asbury Sunday School Class. He served on numerous church committees and boards as well as assisting with meals in the Family Life Center. He loved his church and the fellowship that he found there. 

Tom was a member of the Forest City Kiwanis Club where he had 20 years’ perfect attendance. He served on the Forest City Housing Authority Board, as well as other city committees, was a board member of the Rutherford County Historical Society, and was instrumental in helping restore the Town Clock. Tom was also a proud McNair Mentor in the Rutherford County Schools. Both he and Laverne enjoyed volunteer work in the community and had many hours of dedicated service to the community.  As a hobby, Tom was an avid watch and clock collector. He was a faithful season pass holder and supporter of the Forest City Owls Baseball team.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, LaVerne Gibson Walker, his brothers, Bobby Walker, P.D. Walker, and Herbert Walker, and his sister, Janie Walker Higgins.

Survivors include his son, James Gregory Walker and wife Rosie of Seguin, Texas, his daughter, Wendy Walker Vanecek and husband Jim of Forest City, his brother, Joel Walker and wife Catherine of Ruth, NC, his grandchildren, Andy Walker, Charlie Walker, Alex Vanecek, and Leah Foster, as well as two great-grandchildren, Jaxon and Monroe Foster.

A Memorial service will be held at 2 o’clock on Monday, December 9, 2024, in the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Curtis Goforth officiating. Military honors will be accorded on the front lawn of the church following the service. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall after the service. 

The family respectfully requests that memorials in his memory be made to the First United Methodist Church, 341 East Main Street, Forest City, North Carolina 28043

The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory is in charge of arrangements and an online guest registry is available at wwwpadgettking.com .