O.D. Walker

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O.D. Walker, 82, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2025 at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, just weeks after receiving a diagnosis of Stage 4 lung cancer.

Born on April 15, 1943, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, O.D. was the son of the late O.D. Walker, Sr. and Lavada Poss Walker. He spent his early childhood in Pine Bluff before the family moved to Forrest City, where he graduated from Forrest City High School. He went on to study for a year at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro before joining the National Guard in April 1966, where he served faithfully until September 1971.

During this time, he met the love of his life, Wanda Mae Perry. They married on October 7, 1967, and shared 57 years of deep, abiding love and partnership. After they married, O.D. and Wanda made their home in Wynne, Arkansas, where they raised two daughters and built a successful used car business that supported their family for many years. O.D. and Wanda were longtime members of Wynne Baptist Church, where they nurtured both their faith and their community.

Recently, they moved to Jonesboro to be closer to family and felt called to join Central Baptist Church, where they found a new spiritual home.

O.D. loved the outdoors and had a deep passion for staying active. He enjoyed golfing, playing tennis and pickleball, boating on Greers Ferry Lake, and in later years, crappie fishing — a hobby that turned into a way of life during the months he and Wanda spent in their motor home and later at their second home in Okeechobee, Florida. There, they formed a tight-knit community of friends from across North America. O.D. was known for reeling in hundreds of crappie and loved hosting neighborhood fish fries to share the catch and the joy.

O.D. was a hard worker who believed in doing things right. He loved his family and God with his whole heart, brought humor and energy to every room, and never passed up a chance to make someone laugh. His legacy of faith, love, and generosity will live on through those who knew and cherished him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, O.D. and Lavada Walker. He is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Wanda Walker; daughters Lisa Bone and husband Stephen of Memphis, Tennessee, and Pamela Heese and husband Kip of Jonesboro, Arkansas; sister, Ramona Hafer and husband Dwayne of San Antonio, Texas; and four grandchildren: Taylor Bone, Emily Bone, Jadyn Hesse, and Cal Hesse.

He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Funeral services will be held at Emerson Funeral Home on June 24, 2025, at 2:00 pm. Visitation will precede the service from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Burial will take place at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery. The service will be live streamed for those unable to attend.

Pallbearers will include Jon Sanders, Sr. of West Helena, AR, George Ivey of Brinkley, AR, Juney Smith of Jonesboro, AR, Heath Brown of Brookland, AR, Jon Sanders Jr. of West Helena, AR, and Bill Thompson of Stirling, ONT, Canada. Honorary pallbearers are Dwayne Hafer of San Antonio TX, Gary Worley of Jonesboro, AR, Rick Proctor of Rogers, AR, Herman Higgins of Forrest City, AR, Terry Hutcherson of Wynne, AR, and Randy Johnson of Jonesboro, AR.