Alan Dale Walker was born August 9, 1958 in Waukegan, Illinois, to Henry Gray Walker and Carrie Cummins Walker. Raised in Fox Lake and Ingleside, IL, Al had a wonderful childhood, which left him with many great memories, and provided great stories to share of the escapades of his youth. His parents were two of the most Godly people one could ever hope to meet and by sharing their love for Jesus with him, led him to accept Christ as his savior at a young age. His faith remained strong and of the utmost importance to him throughout his life.

Al always felt an affinity to the South, through his parents' southern roots, and wonderful memories of time spent on his grandparents' farm in Mississippi. He said that his prayers to meet and fall in love with a "Southern Belle' were answered, when a job transfer brought him to Texas. Here he found the love of his life, Lisa, waiting for him. He was a loving and devoted husband, never letting a day go by without telling Lisa how much he loved her and how blessed he was to have her as his wife. He had a beautiful singing voice and many nights serenading her with the words "Heaven...I'm in Heaven..." as she fell asleep.

Al was a fearless and respected Patriarch of his family. A loving father who always took care of his children and did the best he could to teach and guide them through his encouragement, support, loyalty, and unconditional love. His was Agape love, just like Christ offers to all of us.

As a boy, Al fell in love with the game of baseball, playing all positions in the local American Legion League, where he held the Home Run record. He would spend hours imitating MLB players' moves, stances, and routines. From the time he was very young, his parents would turn down the sound on the TV and have Al call the game for them, which he could do like a pro, including accurate player stats, team and player histories and plenty of color.  His dream was to play 1st base for the Chicago White Sox, and his love for the team was forever a part of him, third only to the Lord and his family. Al's passion for Chicago sports was passed down to his children, and many great memories were made watching or attending games of the Bulls, Blackhawks, Bears, and Sox. He enjoyed taking his family to many games over the years, and visiting many stadiums around the country, He loved attending Spring Training, first in Fl and later in AZ, and most vacations just happened to have a Sox game being played along the way.

Al was an avid collector of many things, and he turned his love of collecting into a career, selling Sports memorabilia, Movie and Music memorabilia, toys, and later his own custom figures, online. Shipping these items all across the country and around the world provided him a means to share the Gospel, as with each purchase he included a Chick Tract offering the steps to salvation, along with a letter to the buyer explaining his conviction to share the Gospel with them. A large part of the profits from his business were used to fund his prison ministry, "Final Verdict Ministries". His mission was to provide copies of Josh McDowell's  book, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, to the inmate libraries of correctional institutions. With the next shipment of books, which his family will complete for him, every correctional facility in the state of Texas will have been provided a copy of the book through his ministry.

Al considered it the greatest blessing in his life that all of his children, and the older five of his seven grandchildren, have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. He had a special bond with each of his grandchildren, giving each a special nickname, and being interested, involved and supportive of their passions, whatever those might be. He was a keen listener, who would then surprise them with little gifts related to their latest interest to encourage them and show them how interested he was in anything that interested them. He loved watching TV and movies and playing video games with them, and he spent many happy hours with a grandchild or two in his lap, playing Jak and Daxter, or watching Star Wars, Green Arrow, Trains, Swamp People, even Peppa Pig and Puppy Dog Pals. He treasured the time spent with each of them and they each had a very special place in his heart.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Lisa Lisman Walker, daughter, Susan Walker Jones, sons Michael Walker and his wife Jennifer, Matt Walker and his wife Brittani, and grandchildren, Noah, Kendall, Joshua, Johnathan and Macie Walker and Sydney and Sadie Jones, a Nephew, Sean Walker and his wife Caroline, a niece, Jeanette Coletta and her husband Tony and their two children, and a sister-in-love, Victoria Huebner and her husband, B.J.

There will be a celebration of Al's life on Thursday, May 6th at 4PM at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1200 Country Club Road, Ennis, with a time for visiting the family and reminiscing afterwards in the church cafe.

While Al enjoyed many earthly things, he would tell you that his love for Christ and sharing the Gospel with others would be the only eternal home run that counts. And as Hawk Harrelson would say, "Big Al, you can put it on the board.....YES!

Submitted by Family