Vagelia "Judy" Walker

Vagelia J. "Judy" Walker, 95, formerly of Heavener, OK was born February 17, 1921 in Reichert, OK to James "Bud" & Hettie Forehand.    Judy grew up helping care for her disabled brother, Cecil and her younger brother, James.  She would often go with her Dad on projects and would spend time with him in the fire tower (US Forest Service).  Judy had a way with animals.  She had pets all her life, including some that we would consider wild.  Her current pet is a cat named Ginger.  She had a wild mocking bird in Tulsa that she had trained to eat p-nut butter out of her hand.  She also fed chipmunks that would get in her lap to be fed.  During her school years she would ride a horse on Sunday to Peter Conser's house where she boarded during the week in order to catch the school bus.  She'd ride back home on Friday night. 

          Judy played guard on the Heavener Varsity Girl's Basketball team & went to the state championship.  She graduated at age 16; attended cosmetology school and opened her own business at age 17.   She & Edward Walker attended Heavener HS together and were married March 17, 1942.  They were married for 64 years.

          Vagelia (Judy) & Edward moved to San Diego, CA at the beginning of WWII.  They both worked  in the defense industry building B24 bombers and PBYs.  They would entertain the soldiers that were from Heavener, before they were shipped out to the Pacific.  In many cases it would be their last home-cooked meal.  After the war, they had a son, Larry Walker, born in 1947.  They stayed in California until 1953 and then moved to Tulsa, OK.  Vagelia & Ed spent 57 years in Tulsa.  They were members of First Baptist Church, Tulsa; were very active in the Masonic organization and the Eastern Star - having had over 60 years of service in many positions.

        Both Vagelia & Edward were active in the Red Cross Disaster Recovery group.  After Edward's retirement, they spent time traveling throughout the US.  Vagelia always was very committed to her family & friends.  They enjoyed getting to know their new daughter in law, Sheryl.  They treated her as the daughter they never had.  She and Ed enjoyed their grandchildren, Beth & Doug.  Every summer the  grandkids got a full week of spoiling alone with their grandparents.  In her later years she got to know and enjoy her new granddaughter in law, Jill Walker, and great granddaughters, Avery & Addison Walker.  They called her GG, Great Grandma. 

  Vagelia's relationships with several long-time neighbors were very important to her.  After Edward's death in 2006, Vagelia lived  in Tulsa until 2010 when she moved to Missouri to be closer with her immediate family.

  She is survived by her son & daughter in law, Larry & Sheryl Walker; granddaughter, Elizabeth "Beth" Walker; grandson, Douglas "Doug" Walker & wife Jill;  great granddaughters, Avery & Addison Walker.

Services will be 10 am Friday, April 1, 2016 graveside at Heavener Memorial Park, Heavener, OK.