Earl V Walker

Earl V. “Vic” Walker, 86, of Tavares, FL, passed away on March 14, 2021.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline.  Military Honors will be conducted.  Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Vic was born on February 17, 1935, in Moorhead Park, CA, the son of John Victor Walker and Ruby (Mack) Walker.  He married JoAnne Earle in May 1959, in Rock Island.  Shortly after their marriage, the couple
moved to Southern California where Vic resumed his studies and graduated from San Fernando Valley State College. They remained in California for several years before returning to Rock Island where Vic began his teaching career.  He taught in elementary and junior high schools and at Rock Island High School where
he moved into the Vocational Improvement Program (VIP) and started his own Adult Education Program, STAR. Both were successful programs educating learning challenged and underserved students, who were returning to school, and providing them with opportunities for high school graduation, college admission, and job placement. He truly loved teaching and watching his students learn and grow as was evidenced by his 47 years in the education field.  Vic spent many of his adult years in school himself earning an Education Specialist
degree (EdS) and a Master of Science in Education degree. During those years, he received a number of awards for his teaching and administrative skills along with the honor of being a lifetime board member of the Quad Cities Botanical Center.  After retiring, Vic and JoAnne moved to their dream home in Tavares where they loved their 55+ community, neighbors, and the many activities, including often dancing the night away. Vic continued his teaching at Sumter Community College in Leesburg, Florida. They also enjoyed traveling around Florida, to a resort in Tennessee, back to the Midwest, and to the Western U.S. Their favorite vacation was a three-week Mediterranean cruise with three days in Rome and a private tour of the Vatican.  More than anything else, Vic loved every moment with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He had an unforgettable sense of humor that brought laughter to everyone who knew him.

Survivors include his wife, JoAnne; sons, Scott (Jennifer) Walker, Eric Walker, John (Ana Paula) Walker, and Joel Walker; son who was adopted as an adult, Carlos Walker; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Pearl Walker; brothers-in-law, Steven Earle, & Bill Waters; his wife’s parents, Anita and Harold Earle, whom he called “Mom” and “Dad.”

This beloved gentleman will be dearly missed by family, friends, and students.

Memories may be shared online by visiting the tribute wall.