Harold passed away peacefully at his residence with his family and his devoted caregiver, Beverly Carrington, at his side.
He was formerly a longtime Peorian. Born June 10, 1914, in Loraine, Ill., to John Wesley and Hazel Evelyn (Logan) Walker, he married Patricia Ann Meskimen on Nov. 23, 1974, in Peoria. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Jeffrey W. Cockrell of Green Valley and Michael J. Doolen of Oakridge, Tenn.; and three grandsons, Justin Forrest Cockrell, Wesley Dean Cockrell and Dillon Jacob Cockrell, all of Pekin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Leo, Robert, Loren, Carl, James and Lyle Walker; and one sister, Freda Kincaid.
Harold served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was a World War II veteran and was proud to have served two enlistments in the United States Army and was honorably discharged.
With only a sixth-grade education, Harold went on to become self-educated and attended Illinois Central College. He worked for Caterpillar Inc. as a parts department manager prior to entering the service. He became a successful businessman as owner and operator of Walker's Used Cars, the largest used Cadillac dealer in central Illinois, for 47 years. His dealership was located at 2127 SW Jefferson St. in Peoria.
He also owned the Phillips 66 Service Station and car wash adjacent to the car lot. He also operated Southwest Motors at the corner of Jefferson and Persimmon in Peoria, before retiring to Clearwater, Fla., in September 1989.
He then worked part time for the Clearwater Police Department until his return to Illinois in 1996.
He was a member of the South Side Businessman's Association; Dunn and Bradstreet; and the Tazewell County Farm Bureau.
He enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews.
He loved working in his yard, feeding and watching the birds.
He never stopped buying and selling in his retirement years. He could never pass up a good purchase.
He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Harold had an optimistic outlook on life. His sense of humor and quick wit were infectious. He never met a stranger. He loved to mingle with people. He lived an interesting and full life. He always encouraged people to better themselves. He was a strong and gentle soul and a first-class gentleman who was a role model to all of us of what it means to be a husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be dearly missed by all, including his devoted Yorkies, Zoe and Bridgett.
Entombment will be in Parkview Mausoleum.
Published in the Peoria Journal Star on 3/18/2009.
He was formerly a longtime Peorian. Born June 10, 1914, in Loraine, Ill., to John Wesley and Hazel Evelyn (Logan) Walker, he married Patricia Ann Meskimen on Nov. 23, 1974, in Peoria. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Jeffrey W. Cockrell of Green Valley and Michael J. Doolen of Oakridge, Tenn.; and three grandsons, Justin Forrest Cockrell, Wesley Dean Cockrell and Dillon Jacob Cockrell, all of Pekin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Leo, Robert, Loren, Carl, James and Lyle Walker; and one sister, Freda Kincaid.
Harold served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was a World War II veteran and was proud to have served two enlistments in the United States Army and was honorably discharged.
With only a sixth-grade education, Harold went on to become self-educated and attended Illinois Central College. He worked for Caterpillar Inc. as a parts department manager prior to entering the service. He became a successful businessman as owner and operator of Walker's Used Cars, the largest used Cadillac dealer in central Illinois, for 47 years. His dealership was located at 2127 SW Jefferson St. in Peoria.
He also owned the Phillips 66 Service Station and car wash adjacent to the car lot. He also operated Southwest Motors at the corner of Jefferson and Persimmon in Peoria, before retiring to Clearwater, Fla., in September 1989.
He then worked part time for the Clearwater Police Department until his return to Illinois in 1996.
He was a member of the South Side Businessman's Association; Dunn and Bradstreet; and the Tazewell County Farm Bureau.
He enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews.
He loved working in his yard, feeding and watching the birds.
He never stopped buying and selling in his retirement years. He could never pass up a good purchase.
He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Harold had an optimistic outlook on life. His sense of humor and quick wit were infectious. He never met a stranger. He loved to mingle with people. He lived an interesting and full life. He always encouraged people to better themselves. He was a strong and gentle soul and a first-class gentleman who was a role model to all of us of what it means to be a husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be dearly missed by all, including his devoted Yorkies, Zoe and Bridgett.
Entombment will be in Parkview Mausoleum.
Published in the Peoria Journal Star on 3/18/2009.
Harold passed away peacefully at his residence with his family and his devoted caregiver, Beverly Carrington, at his side.
He was formerly a longtime Peorian. Born June 10, 1914, in Loraine, Ill., to John Wesley and Hazel Evelyn (Logan) Walker, he married Patricia Ann Meskimen on Nov. 23, 1974, in Peoria. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Jeffrey W. Cockrell of Green Valley and Michael J. Doolen of Oakridge, Tenn.; and three grandsons, Justin Forrest Cockrell, Wesley Dean Cockrell and Dillon Jacob Cockrell, all of Pekin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Leo, Robert, Loren, Carl, James and Lyle Walker; and one sister, Freda Kincaid.
Harold served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was a World War II veteran and was proud to have served two enlistments in the United States Army and was honorably discharged.
With only a sixth-grade education, Harold went on to become self-educated and attended Illinois Central College. He worked for Caterpillar Inc. as a parts department manager prior to entering the service. He became a successful businessman as owner and operator of Walker's Used Cars, the largest used Cadillac dealer in central Illinois, for 47 years. His dealership was located at 2127 SW Jefferson St. in Peoria.
He also owned the Phillips 66 Service Station and car wash adjacent to the car lot. He also operated Southwest Motors at the corner of Jefferson and Persimmon in Peoria, before retiring to Clearwater, Fla., in September 1989.
He then worked part time for the Clearwater Police Department until his return to Illinois in 1996.
He was a member of the South Side Businessman's Association; Dunn and Bradstreet; and the Tazewell County Farm Bureau.
He enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews.
He loved working in his yard, feeding and watching the birds.
He never stopped buying and selling in his retirement years. He could never pass up a good purchase.
He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Harold had an optimistic outlook on life. His sense of humor and quick wit were infectious. He never met a stranger. He loved to mingle with people. He lived an interesting and full life. He always encouraged people to better themselves. He was a strong and gentle soul and a first-class gentleman who was a role model to all of us of what it means to be a husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be dearly missed by all, including his devoted Yorkies, Zoe and Bridgett.
Entombment will be in Parkview Mausoleum.
Published in the Peoria Journal Star on 3/18/2009.
He was formerly a longtime Peorian. Born June 10, 1914, in Loraine, Ill., to John Wesley and Hazel Evelyn (Logan) Walker, he married Patricia Ann Meskimen on Nov. 23, 1974, in Peoria. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Jeffrey W. Cockrell of Green Valley and Michael J. Doolen of Oakridge, Tenn.; and three grandsons, Justin Forrest Cockrell, Wesley Dean Cockrell and Dillon Jacob Cockrell, all of Pekin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Leo, Robert, Loren, Carl, James and Lyle Walker; and one sister, Freda Kincaid.
Harold served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was a World War II veteran and was proud to have served two enlistments in the United States Army and was honorably discharged.
With only a sixth-grade education, Harold went on to become self-educated and attended Illinois Central College. He worked for Caterpillar Inc. as a parts department manager prior to entering the service. He became a successful businessman as owner and operator of Walker's Used Cars, the largest used Cadillac dealer in central Illinois, for 47 years. His dealership was located at 2127 SW Jefferson St. in Peoria.
He also owned the Phillips 66 Service Station and car wash adjacent to the car lot. He also operated Southwest Motors at the corner of Jefferson and Persimmon in Peoria, before retiring to Clearwater, Fla., in September 1989.
He then worked part time for the Clearwater Police Department until his return to Illinois in 1996.
He was a member of the South Side Businessman's Association; Dunn and Bradstreet; and the Tazewell County Farm Bureau.
He enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews.
He loved working in his yard, feeding and watching the birds.
He never stopped buying and selling in his retirement years. He could never pass up a good purchase.
He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Harold had an optimistic outlook on life. His sense of humor and quick wit were infectious. He never met a stranger. He loved to mingle with people. He lived an interesting and full life. He always encouraged people to better themselves. He was a strong and gentle soul and a first-class gentleman who was a role model to all of us of what it means to be a husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be dearly missed by all, including his devoted Yorkies, Zoe and Bridgett.
Entombment will be in Parkview Mausoleum.
Published in the Peoria Journal Star on 3/18/2009.
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