Charles (Noojin) Walker, Jr. passed away of natural causes on March 10, 2018. He was 81. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years who he met in college at the University of Alabama, Martha Ann Fulton-Walker of Knoxville, Tennessee; Rosemary Walker, daughter, also of Knoxville, Tennessee, and her two children who are his cherished grandchildren, Christianne Alvarez and Gabriel Alvarez; Charles (Noojin) Walker, III, son, of Deerfield Beach, Florida and his wife, Maria Elena Walker (who was a second daughter to him); Montye Walker-Puckett, sister, of Hartselle, Alabama; his favorite nephew, Charles Noojin Puckett of Eva, Alabama; three nieces, Dorothy Elizabeth Puckett of Hartselle, Alabama, Mary Leah Huhn of Hinesville, Georgia and Patsy Elizabeth Elmore of Decatur, Alabama; William (Bill) Fulton, Sr., brother-in-law, and his wife, Gloria Fulton of San Diego, California and their two children, Tom Fulton of San Diego, California and Bill Fulton of Los Angeles, California.
Noojin was an All-State and All-American Football Player at Falkville High in Falkville, Alabama in 1952 while compiling 2,184 yards in total offense and scoring 141 points. He also played in the 1953 Alabama North-South All-Star High School Football Game and was named Most Outstanding Back. He played as Halfback for the University of Alabama in 1953-56 with Bart Starr and led the team in pass receiving in 1955. He also played as Halfback for Austin Peay State University during 1956-57 and led the team in Rushing for both seasons. He was inducted into the Morgan County Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
Noojin also coached football and taught at Bessemer High School (just south of Birmingham, AL) and served six years in the Army National Guard as an Engineer and Tank Commander.
Noojin obtained his Ph.D. from Florida State University in Science Education with specialties in Chemistry and Physics; a Master’s Degree in Science at the University of Georgia and a B.S. Degree in Chemistry at Austin Peay State University. Noojin was a National Science Foundation Research Fellow at University of Georgia and a Graduate Fellow at Florida State University.
Over a career in academia spanning 35 years, Noojin was a College Professor of Chemistry, a Department Head, a Dean, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs for 25 years at Pensacola State College (PJC) serving then, under the leadership of the late Dr. Harrison and Dr. Wagner in Pensacola, Florida, culminating in a 10 year stint to retirement at Austin Peay State University as Director of the Fort Campbell Program and as a Professor of Chemistry. Noojin also wrote over 100 articles in Science and co-authored with Martha Ann Fulton-Walker a Science text book, entitled The Twain Meet (The Physical Sciences and Poetry) used by a number of universities across the country for over 10 years.
Lastly, Noojin’s greatest accomplishment was being a loving husband, father and best friend. May you rest in peace, Dad, until we meet again.
A private family ceremony celebrating his life was held in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains where his ashes were re-claimed by nature, the hills, and the forest.
