Charles Henri Walker

Charles “Charlie” H. Walker died on Saturday, November 26, 2016 suddenly at the age of 65. Mr. Walker is survived by his wife of 35 years, Amanda (Herndon) Walker; three children: daughter Katrina Walker, daughter Allison Walker and son Carlton Walker; mother, Juanita Webb Walker; brother, Watson H. Walker Jr.; sister, Wilhelmina Walker; two nieces, Nicolle Walker (Carol), Desiree Walker Lamb (Ron); numerous loving in-laws and a host of long-time friends. He is preceded in death by his father Dr. Watson H. Walker Sr. and his brother James Bryan Walker. Charles was born November 11, 1951, in Columbus, Ohio and was a lifelong area resident who graduated from Tufts University, Boston and Emory University of Law, Atlanta. From a young age, Mr. Walker realized that everyone in life had the potential to be great. His father Dr. Watson H. Walker was the first minority staff surgeon at Mercy Hospital and White Cross Hospital which later became Riverside Methodist. His brother James was the first minority graduate from The Columbus Academy. Charles was the third minority graduate from The Columbus Academy and all three of his children graduated from there throughout the years. Charles seized the term trailblazer even further by becoming the first African-American attorney elected to partnership in a major law firm with the prestigious law firm Bricker Eckler LLP, Attorney At Law, where he started out as an Associate in 1976. He officially retired from the firm in 2006 but not before leaving behind a legacy with the Charles H. Walker Diversity Inclusion Scholarship, which was created to annually provide first-year law students with a valuable employment experience early in their careers. Charles met his soul mate for life, Amanda, in 1980 and married her the next year. The couple welcomed their three beautiful children into the world and each remembers their father as a strong, dedicated and loving person. The marriage stayed strong as all three children continued their athletic legacy playing collegiate sports which Charles attended almost every event. Charles and Amanda also shared a mutual and passionate love for their children and their un-compromised family and religious values. The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff of the Fresenius Dialysis Center at Grant Medical Center, who spent countless hours making Charles feel comfortable while receiving dialysis, as well as the entire Fresenius network across the country which allowed Charles to travel and to see his family. The family would also like to send an enormous thank you to the Grant Medical Center staff and associates for their years of loving care. Lastly, they would like to thank The Ohio State Renal Transplant team and the family of the kidney donor who blessed us on September 28, 2016. The family is forever grateful. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates your generosity in supporting the Charles H. Walker, ‘69 Honorary Scholarship through The Columbus Academy website, LifeCare Alliance (Meals on Wheels), or St. Mary’s Catholic Church in German Village. The Order of Christian Funerals will begin at 10 a.m., Saturday, December 3, 2016 at Saint Leo Church, 221 Hanford St., where his family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until the start of Mass. Interment Green Lawn Cemetery.