Gus Allen Walker, 71, of Decatur went to be with Jesus on Sunday, November 23, 2014.
Gus was born in Batesville, Arkansas, to Gus Ray Walker and Alta Justus Walker. When he was five years old, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona. He married the love of his life, Patti Hersey, in 1970. Known as The Mapinator, he spent 38 years at The Arizona Republic. A lifelong artist and musician, Gus continued illustrating historic maps for True West Magazine after retirement. Gus and Patti moved to Decatur in 2006.
He is survived by his wife, Patti; daughters, Sarah McCurley (Dan) and Jennifer Young (Robert); stepdaughter, Renee Wenzler (Lance); nine grandchildren;
aunts, Rita Drane and Flonnie Kinder (Harold); and uncle, Billy Justus.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 26th, at Vintage Faith Church, 401 Sherman Street, Decatur, AL 35601. Memorial donations may be made to Neighborhood Christian Center, Decatur, Alabama.
Gus was one of a kind. An old west saying about well-liked men sums up his life: “He was a good man to ride the river with.”
