To everything, there is a season; a time for every purpose under heaven.

–Ecclesiastes 3:1

Kenneth Lewis Walker was suddenly called home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. Kenny was a family man with a strong work ethic and warm smile. He valued his faith and gently shared it with others through action and his kind manner.

He Loved His Family

Kenny was born June 28, 1951, to Muriel and Atha Walker.  He was the eldest of five children.  The Akron based family was close-knit, valuing Christian ideals and community service.  As a child, Kenny declared Jesus Christ as his Personal Savior and was water baptized at Second Baptist Church in Akron. Growing up, Kenny was a model Boy Scout and a naturally gifted athlete. He played baseball, football, and had a deep passion for basketball, even convincing his parents to install a regulation height basketball hoop in the backyard. He worked several high school summers away at Pilgrim Hills Christian Camp in Brinkhaven, then, during college, on construction crews for Akron municipal projects.  All the while, Kenny maintained his basketball fix by joining leagues at the local Jewish Community.  As his parents aged, Kenny and his wife, Gwen, became attentive, hands-on caregivers, along with his siblings. They coordinated and attended doctor visits, managed home health aides and maintained medical records. Kenny visited his parents every day as their health diminished over a span of more than a decade.

He Loved Learning 

Kenny graduated in the Class of ’69 from Akron Buchtel High School and attended Ohio University the year of the May 4,  Kent State tragedy, stirring an increased awareness of political and societal issues. Kenny then transferred to the University of Akron and earned his Bachelor of Arts in English.   Throughout his life, Ken remained a voracious reader, particularly enjoying English literature and books on political thought and sports. He also loved music, with tastes that ranged from Satie’s delicate piano to Hendrix’s soaring electric guitar.

He Loved His Wife

One Sunday in April 1977, at the invitation of his brother, David, Kenny attended Macedonia Baptist Church. David and his then-girlfriend (now wife) Yolanda had just recently met a new member of the church choir and they thought she would be a good match for him.   As Kenny walked into church that day, Gwendolyn Bullard was singing a solo from the gospel classic, “Take Me Back.” Kenny was instantly smitten by her. For a while, she was all he could talk about, insisting to his family that “she’s the one”.  A few months later, Kenny and Gwen celebrated New Year’s Eve by exchanging their wedding vows. A charter bus of nearly 50 family members and friends traveled from Akron, Ohio to Gwen’s home town of Pine Bluff, Arkansas to support their union.

He Loved His Children

Within their first two years of marriage, Kenny and Gwen moved to Fairlawn, Ohio, and were blessed with their first child, Kendolyn. Two years later, Jason was born, followed closely by Jessica, then Jonathan “Evan”.  As their family grew, their home filled with laughter, rowdiness, and creativity.   As the children got older, Kenny’s schedule bustled with family activities — sports practices, choir concerts, and school plays. He balanced work and family life, dashing about from his Fairlawn-based office and a client meeting in Wooster, Ohio to a Friday night football game or fall musical production at Copley High School. Kenny was his children’s biggest champion, providing constant support and encouragement.

He Loved Church

Kenny and Gwen both loved the local church. From his early days at Macedonia where Kenny rededicated his life to following Christ under the pastoring of Rev. Frank Williams, to raising his kids and leading a youth group at Akron Alliance Fellowship, he always valued being a part of an active church community. In recent years, Kenny and Gwen have attended Christ Community Chapel (CCC), where he served as a deacon, usher, mentor to engaged couples, as well as traveling to Swaziland in Africa with a missions team. Kenny also had a vision for building cross-cultural relationships within the church, joining Common Ground at CCC.

He Loved People

Kenny was a loyal friend, who maintained lifelong friendships, many beginning in childhood. His friends became family to his parents and siblings, wife and children. He was intentional about letting others know they were seen. Holding to the example set by civic-minded parents, he dedicated hours each week to serving several non-profit and community-based organizations, including the Haven of Rest Ministries and Blick Clinic.  Kenny’s compassion for people extended to his profession as a financial advisor. He had a strong work ethic, seeking to educate and encourage people about financial planning to support loved ones. For the majority of his career, he worked at Pointinger, Redmond, Lyons, Kura, & Walker, where he was a partner.  Kenny took pride in his work and how he could use it to benefit others. He cherished and often quoted the words of civil rights activist Daisy Lee Bates: “The future is purchased in the present.” While growing older, Kenny’s love for Jesus grew. He dedicated time to praying, serving and lovingly helping others. He enjoyed days filled with smiles and laughter and deep friendships and kindness.

He was preceded in death by his father, Atha W. Walker (1917-2011), and his mother, Muriel L. Walker (1927-2017). 

Left to cherish Kenny’s memory and carry on his legacy are his devoted wife of 41 years, Gwendolyn Bullard Walker, daughter Kendolyn, son Jason, daughter Jessica Davis(Chauncey) and son Jonathan “Evan”, and siblings David Walker (Yolanda), Gail Walker, Judith Miles (Stephen), and Jeffrey Walker. He is also survived by brother-in-law, Richard Bullard, sister-in-law, Essie Bullard, grandson, Chauncey Cordell Davis Jr. and granddaughter, Chaz-Lynae Riley Davis, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, friends, and co-workers who enriched his life, as he touched their lives. 

Kenny also leaves a legacy through the years he served on the boards of the Haven of Rest for 27 years, The Blick Center (formerly Blick Clinic) for 27 years, and WKSU Community Advisory Counsel for 6 years. He has also sat on the board of the Black Renaissance Leadership Development & Bible Teachers Ministry since 2003, serving as the Chairman of the Board from 2005 – 2012. In recent years, he joined the board of Urban Vision. 

Charitable donations can be given in Kenny’s honor through the following websites: 

HAVEN OF REST – https://www.havenofrest.org

THE BLICK CENTER – http://www.blickcenter.org

WKSU – https://www.wksu.org

URBAN VISION – http://www.urbanvisionministry.org