Finis Oliver Walker

A longtime Talbot County and Dorchester County teacher, Finis Oliver Walker passed away at his home in Easton, MD, from cardiac arrest on Friday, February 1, 2019. He was 91. Not one for socializing, Finis or “Fin” as he was also called, could be found in his yard digging, planting and pruning nearly every day of the year. Only snow or rain stopped him. He loved nothing better than taking seeds or cuttings and sticking them in containers to see what would grow. His garden was a menagerie of shrubs, flowers, vines, trees, grasses, vegetables and any odd plant he spotted roadside or in the woods. Born in Oneonta, AL, on November 17th, 1927, Finis came from a family of ten children. To escape a life of poverty and farming, he enlisted in the military against his father’s wishes. He joined the United States Air Force in January 1946. For the next 11 years, he was a radio operator including service during the Korean War as an airborne operator aboard KC-97 Stratotankers refueling bomber aircraft. In the military, he travelled the world and eventually met his future wife, Brenda Maude Abbnett, while stationed at Chicksands Air Station, England. They were married on January 19th, 1961. Two years later, they moved to Crete, Greece, where Finis was stationed from 1963 to 1967. During their time on Crete, they started a family eventually having two boys. Both sons were born at the US Air Force Hospital on Wheelus Air Base in Tripoli, Libya, because that was the closest military hospital. From Crete, the family moved to Gulfport, MS, where Finis eventually retired from active duty in February of 1970. In the summer of 1970, the family moved to Easton, MD, where for the next ten years Finis taught electronics at the vocational and technical high school. He also graduated from the University of Maryland College of Education with a Bachelor's of Science degree. He eventually transferred to the Dorchester County Career and Technology Center where he retired in 1991. Before computerization, Finis would often repair TV’s and radios for coworkers and locals out of his garage shop. He also loved to tinker with old radios and electronics as a hobby. Finis is survived by his son, Jason John Walker of Washington, DC; his grandsons, Andrew Walker-Bullock, 25, of St. Louis, MO; and James Walker-Bullock, 20, of Plano, TX. He is predeceased by his parents, Oliver Walker and Jessie Walker; wife Brenda; and oldest son, Martin John Walker. Services will be private.

Finis Oliver Walker

November 17, 1927 - February 1, 2019