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Passed away April 14, 2008 in Findlay Ohio
Below is the obituary reprinted from "The Courier" from Findlay, Ohio from April 14, 2008. Subsequent cause of death was determined via autopsy to be "severe myocardial infarction" (heart attack). In addition to his work as a dispatcher, back in the late 1970s Phil worked at radio station WFIN in Findlay as an on-air personality (DJ) and later served as program director.
Philip S. (Phil) Walker, 57, of Findlay, Ohio passed away at his home. He was born March 18, 1951, to Malcolm and Virginia Walker (Herriman). They preceded him in death. He served as a dispatcher at the Hancock County Sheriff's Office from 1987 to 2003, where he had many friends. He is survived by his brother, Gerald (Lou) Walker of Oriental, NC. Also surviving are his three children, Jenny Walker of Tiffin, OH; Amanda Walker of Findlay, OH; and Scott Walker of Fort Bliss, TX; and three step children, Chad; and Jason Windsor of Tiffin, OH; and Aimee Wiles of Findlay, OH.
He also leaves behind many grandchildren, Donovan Walker; Jaxon Harris; Robert; Patience and Abigail Hardy; Kaleb and Kaydence Walker. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at the Old Trinity Episcopal Church 125 E. Market St in Tiffin, OH.
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Paul Siegel
Phil was one of my best friends at Heights. Along with Mark Hein and Mark Miller, the four of us sang as a barbershop quartet at choir concerts and even a few outside venues during our senior year.After graduating from Heidelberg College, Phil moved to Findlay in NW Ohio and went to work for WFIN, the local radio station. He had a morning show for several years in the late 1970s, which involved him spinning records, reading the farm report and news off the wire, and taking call-ins. At the time I was living in the Twin Cities, and every once in a while he'd ring me up and ask me to go on the air with him as an "expert" on one subject or another. Even though things always started out serious for us -- one time he asked me to explain the concepts behind the Jewish High Holidays to his mostly non-Jewish listeners, while another time he asked for my opinion on a modern art show on display in town (back then I was working for a Minneapolis importer of works by Chagall, Picasso and Dali) -- invariably we'd fall back into our old high school roles of trying to make the other guy break up in laughter. I can't imagine what his station manager might have thought about all that, but we imagined ourselves as the next Bob and Ray. He eventually became the station's program manager before getting laid off when ownership changed and an automated format replaced the locally produced one.
After that he used his mellifluous voice to capture a position as dispatcher for the local sheriff's office. We lost touch a while later, which I regret to this day.
R.I.P, old pal.
Joan Quedenfeld (Smith)
I will always remember Phil as a talented, fun, and kind person. I knew him at Oxford School, Monticello, and Heights through music, of course. So often I have thought of him over the years and have wondered about his life and am so sad to hear of his passing so soon.He will always be in my thoughts.
Michael R. Morris
R.I.P. PHIL.....FROM MIKE MORRIS. WENT THROUGH JUNIOR AND SENIOR CLASSES TOGETHER. PHIL, JIM SHAW AND I SAT TOGETHER, AS WE JOKED AND SHARED OUR TOILS TO GET TO THE END. AND PHIL, CAN STILL REMEMBER US DOUBLING TO SEE JOSE FELICIANO AT PUBLIC HALL. AND THE T'BIRD THAT YOU DROVE THAT NIGHT. YOU WILL BE MISSED. GLAD I HAD THE HONOR TO KNOW YOU. MIKE MORRISMark E. Miller
Just becoming active at this site, I went looking for old friends. I am very saddened by the news that this old friend has passed on. Paul discussed our barbershop quartet and Phil was a wonderful part of it. His baritone voice and smile always added warmth to our performances. I too remember crusing in his Dad's Thunderbird!Live life everyday like it's your last!
Rest in peace, old friend.