Obituary

Funeral services for H.A. "Dale" Walker, 83, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Grace United Methodist Church with the Rev. Horace Abbott, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Kornerstone Funeral Directors. Mr. Walker died at 1:07 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004, in Covenant Hospital. He was born Aug. 7, 1921, in Rhineland, the son of Ed and Grace Walker. He moved to Plainview with his parents in 1923 and attended Plainview schools. He served with the U.S. Army from 1942-45, where he received the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, Bronze Star Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation. He was a prominent driller in Texas and the Midwest since 1950 and owned and operated Plainview Welding & Drilling from 1950-74. In 1974, he and his son became partners and opened Walker Drilling where he worked until retiring. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. On Jan. 24, 1944, he married Imogene Irene Langston in Plainview. She died Sept. 19, 2004. Survivors include one daughter, Michele Devin of Lubbock; one son and daughter-in-law, Billy Frank and Nancy Walker of Plainview; three sisters, Donna Sue Gooch and Louise Pollock, both of Lubbock, and Gene Patty of Houston; an aunt, Myrtle Lee Beasley of Lubbock; six grandchildren and spouses, Jennifer and Adam Wright, Bryan and Wendy Walker, Tiffany and Andrew Walling, Crystal Devin, James Devin and Tara Devin; and three great-grandchildren, Conner Wright, Brennen Wright and Stephanie Wright. He was preceded in death by his wife; a daughter, Delta Walker Smith; two grandchildren, Stephanie D'Lyn Smith and John Walker; and three brothers. Pallbearers will be Bryan Walker, Adam Wright, James Devin, Andrew Walling, Fred Willis and Leland Stukey. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home, 201 W. Fourth. Memorials are suggested to Scottish Rite Hospital or to Grace United Methodist Church.