George J. Walker ’56, Brig. Gen., U.S. Army Retired, passed away April 11, 2005, at his home, in Niceville., Fla., after a sudden heart attack.
A graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Ga., he received a master’s in political science from Auburn University. General Walker served six years in the Quartermaster Corps of the Army and the remainder of his active service in Military Intelligence. He served tours in France, Germany, Korea and Vietnam, as well as stateside assignments.
He was a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College and the Air Force War College. He served as chief of staff and later as Deputy Commandant of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and as chief of staff, and later, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command in Washington, D.C. His final assignment prior to retirement in 1989 was as director of intelligence, J2, of Forces Command in Atlanta, Ga.
After retirement from the Army, he and Mrs. Walker resided in Huntsville, Ala., where he was employed by Science Applications International Corporation and did consulting work in the United Arab Emirates. He was president of the Huntsville chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and chairman of the Military Retiree Advisory Council to the Commander, Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. He volunteered with the Huntsville chapter of the American Red Cross.
He was inducted into the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Hall of Fame at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. and served as the honorary colonel of the Army’s Military Intelligence Corps from 1994 until 1998. General Walker was a lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Association of Uniformed Services, the Association of The United States Army.
He was also a member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus. Among General Walker’s awards and decorations were the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 2OLC, Army Commendation Medal with 1OLC, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, four awards of the Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign with four campaign stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Cross.
Since moving to Niceville, Jerry he was active in the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife of forty-four years, Mary Frances Pennacchio Walker, 4203 Whitetail Cir, Niceville, Fla. 32578; a daughter, Michelle Walker Carnes of Martinez, Ga.; two sons, Scott Thomas Walker of Hedgesville, W.Va., and George Allan Walker of Plano, Texas.
Additionally, he is survived by grandchildren Jason Carnes of Bluffton, S.C., Laurie Carnes Graham of Augusta, Ga., Jeremy Carnes of Martinez, Ga., Marlee, Colby, Wesley and Samantha Walker of Plano, Texas. He is survived by one great-grandson Hayden Graham of Martinez, Ga., by two brothers, Douglas W. Smith of Greensboro, N.C., and Andrew Smith of Rome, Ga.