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On Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, William “Bill” Henry Walke passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on his 96th Birthday. Bill was born Sept. 24, 1927, in Detroit, Mich., to Sanford Evans Walke And Flossie Belle (Wickware). He was the youngest of six children, named after his grandpa who had a Navy ship named after him, the U.S.S. Walke Destroyer.
Bill grew up in the greater Detroit area with his four brothers and one sister.
His brothers and he reassembled a car that their dad brought home in boxes after it had been hit by a train. This began Bill’s lifelong love of all things automotive.
Shortly after Bill’s father passed away, his four older brothers were all deployed and Bill was left to be the only man in the home. His mom didn’t drive, so he was able to get his driver’s license to take her to do errands and to drive himself to school.
He was 12 years old. Since the age of 12, Bill has never been without a job. His first job was delivering newspapers; he was also a substitute mail carrier.
When Bill was 17 years old, his mom agreed to sign for him so that he could enlist in the U.S. Navy in December 1944. Bill proudly served in the Navy as an aviation Ordnanceman during World War II and the Korean War.
While Bill was stationed in Florida in 1948, he went to the very first NASCAR race where his passion and excitement for NASCAR was born. Through all the years after, he carried on this passion and shared it with his family.
Bill was honorably discharged December 1952 and started in the insurance business where he was able to be self-employed and travel across the country and even across the world, living in Australia for a few years and throughout the U.S.
His love for vehicles and driving was one of the many reasons he loved his traveling job. He always favored the Cadillacs, but every so often he would make a change and get a Lincoln.
Driving in style was his only way to go.
He retired after 40 years in the insurance business but could not keep himself out of a job.
Bill went to work for Sam’s Club, Walmart, and the OPUBCO newspaper company. He finally fully retired in 2017 at age 90.
In 2019, he moved to Kingfisher where he spent the remainder of his years.
In his younger years, Bill loved to tinker with gas motor model planes, buying and repairing old cars and midget racing.
His favorite color has been red since he was a kid and that has never changed. If red is an option, that’s what he’ll choose.
So, it was no surprise when he became a fan of OU shortly after moving to Oklahoma.
One of his favorite passions was cooking and he was amazing at it. Cooking for his family and friends was a passion that continued through his years.
Medium rare steak was his absolute favorite meal, and he was always sure to share with his best friend Nikki (his Chihuahua).
His favorite dessert was chocolate ice cream.
He lived a full life of traveling and doing all the things he loved.
Bill married his wife Audrey in June 1955 in Portland, Ore., and became a dad in 1967.
In 1984, Bill and his daughter moved to Edmond where he finally settled down and started growing roots in the community.
He had his first grandson in 1986 and two granddaughters followed after.
From the moment they were born, they were his world. He loved with all he had and they felt it every moment of everyday.
He took the name “Papa” with pride.
Even during his retired years working at Walmart, families would walk in calling him “Papa.” That was his name; that’s how he was known.
He would always say, “having a child is great, but having grandchildren is amazing!”
Then his first great-grandchild was born in 2009 and from then on he would say, “having grandchildren is amazing, but having great-grandchildren is incredible!!”
Bill loved all his family so much. He was a true blessing in their lives with so many memories to cherish. To know him is to love him.
He didn’t know a stranger and he never had an enemy. Kind, outgoing, loving and selfless. That’s who he was.
He was a family man that would do absolutely anything for them. He was one of a kind and a blessing to all who knew him.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents Sanford and Flossie Belle; his brothers Sandy, Robert, James and Howard; his sister Mary Elizabeth (Walters); and his sister-in-law Mary.
He is survived by his grandson Colby Parsons and wife Brittney of Edmond; granddaughter Whitney Mulherin and husband Lincoln of Kingfisher; granddaughter Hailee Cosentino and husband Chris of Piedmont; nine great-grandchildren, Macey, Brett, Sofia, Brody, William, Emilia, Caleb, Addison and John David; his best friend and companion of 11 years, Nikki (his Chihuahua); along with his nieces and nephews.
His final request is a small private memorial by the ocean, for his family to go back to where he served all those years ago.
Memorials can be sent to the Disabled American Veterans charity: DAV National Headquarters, 860 Dolwick Drive, Erlanger, KY 41018 Donations can also be made online at https:// support.dav.org/campaign/ William-H--Walke Until the day we reunite in heaven, you will be incredibly missed. We love you forever and always Papa.
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