Donald Stanley Walker

Donald Stanley “Stan” Walker, 58, of Dalton, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday July 4, 2007 following a courageous battle with cancer. He was the son of the late Drs. Don and Alys Walker.

Stan was born in Chattanooga, TN on October 8, 1948, graduated from Dalton High School, Dalton Junior College, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and the Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. He was a Financial Planner and was associated with several local bank trust departments prior to opening his private practice in 2000. He was a member of Dalton First United Methodist Church.

As an avid private pilot, Stan delighted in flying “Colonel Mustard”, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. He served as president of the Pilots Association of Dalton and was a member of Angel Flight Southeast for whom he flew missions transporting patients to healthcare treatments and relief supplies to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, following Hurricane Katrina. He also introduced aviation to countless young people through his affiliation with the Young Eagles program of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc.

Stan was a member of the Dalton Airport Authority and the GreenHouse board of directors and had previously been active with the Kiwanis Club of Dalton, American Heart Association, Dalton State College Foundation, Dalton State College Alumni Association, Whitfield Healthcare Foundation and Cherokee Boys’ Estate.

Stan is survived by his wife, Anne Walker of Dalton; sons and daughter-in-law, Rob Walker of Atlanta and Paul and Elicia Walker of Dalton; daughter, Amy Walker of Ypsilanti, MI; grandson, Nickolas Walker of Dalton; sister and brother-in-law Ava and Gerald Embry of Rocky Face; grandmother, Ava Leary of Dyersburg, TN; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Jane and Pleas Smith of Dalton; brother-in-law, Carl Smith of Dalton; sisters-in-law, Jean (Dick) Lowrey of Dalton, Ellen (Rick) King of Dalton and Shirley (Gary) Westmoreland of Mableton; son-at-heart, Scott Swilley; granddaughter-at-heart, Jordyn Swilley; and a number of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Pilots Association of Dalton and members of the Cherokee Area Estate Planning Council.

The funeral service will be Saturday at 3:00 pm in the sanctuary of Dalton First United Methodist Church with Dr. Joe Peabody and the Rev. Al Turnell officiating. The family will receive friends in the Atium of the church from 1:00 to 3:00 pm prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, Stan requested that memorials be made to Dalton First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 627, Dalton, GA 30722; Friends of the GreenHouse, Inc., P. O. Box 983, Dalton, GA 30722-0983; Dalton State College Foundation, 213 North College Drive, Dalton, GA 30720; Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, P. O. Box 1168, Dalton, GA 30722-1168; or Georgia Sheriffs’ Cherokee Estate, 850 Cherokee Estate Road, NE, Dalton, GA 30721.

Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.

Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Avenue, Dalton is in charge of arrangements.