Eugene “Gene” Avant Walker, Jr. was born March 30, 1936 in Savannah, GA. to Eugene, Sr. and Blanche Walker. Eugene served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1957-1961. In 1962 he began working full time at Boeing (Michou plant) in New Orleans, while taking night classes at Louisiana State University in New Orleans. He married Frances Sterling in 1962 and graduated from LSU in NO in 1971 with a B.S. Degree in Engineering Sciences. During his time at Boeing between 1962-1970, Eugene worked on the NASA team that supported the Apollo program that culminated with the Apollo 11 moon landing mission. Eugene’s work moved the family a few times until settling in Huntsville, AL where he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and finally the U.S. Space & Missile Defense Command (SMDC) where he retired in 2001.
Eugene was a natural “handyman” and had a passion for building, fixing, and working on electrical and mechanical projects. His main love and passion, however, was music. He loved to sing (anywhere and everywhere). In his later years, Eugene led singing services at retirement and assisted living homes. Eugene always made everyone around him laugh. His “silliness” was unique and special. There’s not a doubt Eugene is joyfully and loudly singing with the angels in a Heavenly Choir at this moment.
