Hulon Alvin Walker, Sr.

Graveside services for Hulon Alvin Walker, Sr. of Shawnee Prairie will be held Monday, November 13, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Manning Cemetery with Pastor Tommy Cunningham officiating.

Hulon Alvin Walker, Sr., 87, passed peacefully from this earth Friday, November 10, 2023 at his residence in Shawnee Prairie, Texas with his loving wife by his side. He was born August 18, 1936 in Wisner, Louisiana. Hulon led a remarkable life, overcoming adversity and achieving great success.

Born into a poor sharecropper family, Hulon experienced the hardships of living in shotgun housing with newspaper lining the walls for insulation. At a young age he began picking cotton in the fields to help support his family. Despite his challenging circumstances, Hulon displayed remarkable intelligence and determination.

At the age of 15, Hulon’s talent in football caught the attention of his coach, who approached his parents with an offer for his to live with his family so he could continue playing football as the family had to move to the next fields. Hulon’s academic prowess allowed him to skip a grade, enabling him to graduate a year earlier than his peers.

Hulon’s mother made a pivotal decision to lie about his age, enabling him to enlist in the U.S. Army. He served for five years, including during the Korean War, before returning home. Hulon’s early career ventures involved various roles, such as a furniture and window blind salesman, as well as a truck driver. During the oil boom of the 1960’s he delivered oil rigs across the United States.

In 1967 Hulon embarked on a new chapter as a janitor in a nursing home. Through hard work and determination, he quickly progressed, acquiring knowledge in all aspects of the nursing home business. Hulon’s dedication and on-the-job training led him to purchase and manage the first of three nursing homes from 1969 to 1972. Later he partnered with others to acquire more than 15 nursing homes. Hulon’s passion for providing higher quality end-of-life care led him to demolish and rebuild facilities, ensuring the best living conditions he could provide for his residents.

Recognizing the challenges of managing multiple locations, Hulon obtained his Private Pilot’s License with Instrument Rating, allowing him to efficiently oversee his businesses cross different states and cities. His commitment to hard work and time management took him on countless flights and enabled him to fulfill his responsibilities.

In 1991 Hulon sold his share to his partner and transitioned into a role as financial advisor for struggling facilities throughout the state of Texas. His expertise and passion for the industry helped numerous facilities and businesses remain operational and continue serving their residents and customers. In 1994 Hulon was elected to the board of Care Initiative, a large Texas-based company. As the only board member with the experience to replace the CEO, he steered the company away from bankruptcy and transformed it into a thriving organization spanning multiple states. His dedication led him to move to Des Moines, Iowa in 1994 and eventually back to Texas in 2004, after successfully restoring the company’s financial stability and turning it from net negative to worth over 50 million dollars.

Even after his official retirement in 2007, Hulon remained an active and hardworking individual. He purchased and restored an old convenience store in Rayburn Country, opening a tackle store. Hulon enjoyed sharing stories and life’s adventures with anyone willing to listen, imparting valuable life lessons and work ethics to the younger generation. He lived life to the fullest, cherishing every moment.

Hulon Walker will be deeply missed, and his memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew him.

Survivors include his wife, Charlene (Jones) Walker; daughter, Kayla Revia; son, Timmy Quick and wife Tina; son, Mark Walker; granddaughter, Ashley Walker; grandson, Liam Walker; great-granddaughters, McKayla, Maki, and Cori; and sister, Viola Bamburg.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ora Redia (Hartzog) and John Alvin Walker; son, Hulon Alvin “Al” Walker, Jr.; and siblings, Gerald, Lloyd, Howard, Evlen, Billy, Noel, Pat, Nina, and Mike.

Pallbearers will be Timmy Quick, Greg Jackson, Edwin Buford, Gene Williams, David Frankens, and Chase Capps.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. Monday afternoon prior to the services.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.