James Floyd “Jimmy” Walker

James Floyd “Jimmy” Walker was born Sept. 26, 1927 and has been a lifelong resident of Waelder. On the Robinson side through his mother, he descended from the line of an original city founder. Jimmy passed away on Thursday, Oct. 12, at the age of 90.

Jimmy married Carol Jane Browning of Buda, Texas on Valentine’s Day of 1949. That union lasted 56 years until Carol passed away on July 23, 2005. They had two boys, Larry and Alan. Larry married Diana Talbot. He passed away Jan. 28, 2008. Alan married Patricia Tittle. Alan and Patricia had two children, Jenny, who married Ryan Frisbie and James Walker and his girlfriend Jennifer Bishop. Jenny and Ryan have two children, Walker and Clark Frisbie.

Jimmy Walker attended The University of Texas in Austin, beginning his studies at the age of 16. He served during World War II in the United States Navy. He will be remembered for a life filled with variety and adventure. Among the early highlights was a period of professional entertaining. He traveled through Texas with the Blaney-Walker Magic Show. His partner, Walter Blaney, remained in magic and is now internationally famous. Jimmy had a weekly mind reading show on the radio called, The Astounding Jimmy Walker.

Another profession he followed was as an automobile dealer for Chevrolet and Oldsmobile. He ranched Hereford cattle. He was an insurance agent. He wrote articles for a number of magazines and newspapers where his subject was mostly adventure. Later he co-authored stories with his wife, Carol, for collector and decorator publications. Together, they published “Iron Talk,” a bi-monthly magazine for antique iron collectors. They were well known and respected authorities on the history of ancient pressing devices. As iron dealers, they bought and sold irons. As publishers, they had loyal subscribers in 20 countries.

Jimmy was a mountain climber and caver. He scaled Popocatepetl, the third highest peak in North America. He is recognized in books and is celebrated by today’s generation of cave explorers as one of the early pioneers of Texas cave explorers.

As an outdoorsman, he served seven years as scoutmaster and led his troop to a series of victories in Boy Scout competitions.

He was an accomplished artist, having a number of one-man shows and with his oil paintings reprinted as greeting cards and on covers of magazines.

Jimmy will be laid to rest in the Waelder Cemetery near Carol, his wife with whom he shared a loving relationship for 56 years. His son, Larry, preceding him in death, shares the family plot. Services celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16, in the Waelder First Baptist Church with Chaplain Jimmy Holguin officiating. Interment will follow in Waelder Cemetery. Pallbearers: Curtis Drake, Gary Hill, George Atkinson, Michael Blundell, Jay Gray and Roger Gray. Honorary pallbearer: Walter Blaney. The family received friends from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Sunday afternoon in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.