Obituary: George Lee Walker, 81, formerly of Bardstown
GEORGE LEE WALKER
George Lee Walker, 81, of Elizabethtown, died Saturday, May 27, 2017, at his residence and farm. He was born in 1935 in Tell City, Ind., and spent part of his childhood in Bardstown. He later moved to Louisville where he attended St. Columba Grade School. During his sophomore and junior years of high school, he attended St. Mary’s Seminary in Loretta, where he developed a love for farming and horticulture. He returned to Louisville his senior year and graduated from Flaget High School in 1952. He attended Bellarmine University and in 1959, joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he obtained the rank of corporal. He was married to the love of his life, Margaret Ann Masterson in 1961 at St. Vincent DePaul in New Hope. They moved to Elizabethtown in 1962 and started a garden center and landscape business. In 1967, they purchased a farm and ran a cattle\cropping operation for many years. In 1979, together they built and operated a wholesale greenhouse which they operated with their two sons for many years. He was a devout Catholic and member of St. James Catholic Church. He especially enjoyed his farm, spending time with his fiance, children, grandchildren, and extended family and traveling.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 27 years, Margaret Ann Masterson Walker; his parents, Margaret Ann Lee Walker and William Thomas Walker; two sisters, Ann D. Smith and Margaret Jane “Peggy” Fugett; and two brothers, William Joseph “Bill” Walker and Charles Edward “Charlie” Walker.
He is survived by three daughters, Theresa Ann Malone (Mark) of Elizabethtown, Agnes Mary Dinkler (Larry) of Winter Park, Fla. and Christine Louise Gearheard (Mike) of Elizabethtown; two sons, Michael Lee Walker (Pam) of Florence and Robert “Bob” Thomas Walker (Karen) of Fisherville; one sister, Mary Kay Meadows of Louisville; 12 grandchildren, Andrew Thomas Walker (Jo Donna), Bradley Michael Walker (Candace), Wesley Thomas Walker (Susie), Ryan Tyler Banks, Grant Thomas Malone, Jim Farese, Whitney Christine Hancock, Lauren Margaret Walker, Megan Elizabeth Malone-Sievert (Austin), Victoria Saige Farese, Natalie Jo Sheppard and Amanda Marie Sheppard; nine great-grandchildren; and his fiance, Min Ja Graves.
The funeral is noon Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at St. James Catholic Church with the Rev. Shayne Duvall officiating. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 1-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2017, and after 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Brown Funeral Home with a 7 p.m. Tuesday prayer vigil.
Expressions of sympathy may take form of contributions to the St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. James Catholic Church.
The Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown is in charge of arrangements.
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