Bennett Lee Walker

Bennett Lee Walker passed away on October 26, 2010 after his fourth battle with cancer over the last 9 years.

Ben was born in Houston, Texas, on February 27, 1933 to Isaac Ray Walker and Arrie Dell Walker (nee Rodgers). After moving several times during his early school years Ben’s family settled in Concord, California, where he graduated from Mt. Diablo High School in 1951.

Later that year, Ben volunteered for the U.S. Navy, and spent the next four years serving on the USS LSM 125 and the USS Montrose during and after the Korean War.

After leaving active duty in 1955, Ben attended the University of Houston and the University of Texas in Austin, where he completed his degree in mechanical engineering.

In the spring of 1961, Ben met Annette Anderson, also a student at the university. They married in August of that year, just days after they both graduated.

Soon afterwards, Ben began his engineering career with Foster Wheeler in Houston, Texas. In the summer of 1964 he took a job with Esso Libya that began his 30 year career with Exxon. Ben’s first assignment was in Raguba, Libya, in the Sahara Desert. Annette and their 4 month old son, Matt, followed in October. During their 10-1/2 years in LIbya they lived in Benghazi, Marsa Brega, and Tripoli. In December of 1974 they were transferred to the Exxon Production Research Company in Houston. Two years later, they were again transferred overseas to Malaysia. Over the next 13 years, Ben oversaw the development of offshore oil platforms for Esso Malaysia Production, Inc.

Ben retired from Exxon in 1994 in Houston, where Ben and Annette had been transferred in 1990. During his retirement, Ben enjoyed fishing, working in his vegetable garden and tending to his fruit trees, playing golf with his friends, and spending quality time with his church family.

Ben is survived by his wife of 49 years, Annette, his son Matthew and daughter-in-law, Deborah, his sister Betty Jackowski and her husband Charlie, his brother Mickey and his wife Barbara, his brother Norman, and his brother Rodger and his wife Patricia.

Ben will be interred in Austin at the Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery, in the Texas Liberty Garden (Pflugerville) on Monday, November 1 at 2:00PM. A small graveside service will be held at that time, where Ben will receive military honors for his service in the Navy. A Celebration Service at Grace Fellowship United Methodist Church on Mason Road in Katy will be held Thursday, November 4 at 1:00 PM.

Ben fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. (II Timothy 4:7)

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Ben’s name to the Care Ministry of Grace Fellowship UMC, or other charity.