John C. Walker

John C. Walker, 85 of Tipton, died at 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at IU Health Saxony Hospital, Fishers. He was born in Tipton on July 6, 1931 to John Loren & Martha E. (Gardner) Walker. On June 10, 1951 he married Nedra Phillips and she preceded him in death in 1991. On October 16, 1993 he then married Wanda J. Park Heath and she survives.

John was a native of Tipton and graduate of Tipton High School, class of 1949. He attended Hanover College and served in the Korean War from 1951-1953 as an infantry officer. Upon his return home, Walker owned and managed the Tipton Produce Co., Tipton Meat Market, Tipton Locker Plant and Walker Poultry Farm. In 1966, he joined Pioneer Hi-Bred in the Hy-Line Chick Division. He transferred to the Corn Division in 1972 and retired in 1992. John served as executive director of the Tipton County Foundation for thirteen years, ending in June, 2005. He was a member of Kemp United Methodist Church in Tipton and taught Sunday school.

John is survived by his wife, Wanda; two daughters, Lynn A. Dunn and husband Walt, of Tipton, Susan J. Powell, Tipton, step sons Brad Heath and wife Barb, Delphi, Doug Heath and wife Deb, Tipton; nine grandchildren, Grant Dunn and wife Leslie, Emily Anderson and husband Larry, Blair Dunn and wife Dawn, Kimberly Nunemacher and husband Malachy, Kristen Noble and husband Jason, Beth Bucher and husband Matt, Amy Heath, Justin Heath and wife Kim, and Shelby Heath; ten great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Martha D. Walker and a son-in-law, Danny Powell.

John’s funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 19 at Young-Nichols Funeral Home in Tipton with Rev. Gary Eberhart presiding. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be Saturday from noon until time of the service.

Memorial donations may be made to the Marty Walker Scholarship fund in c/o The Tipton County Foundation P.O. Box 412 Tipton, Indiana 46072.