Sculptor remembered for stellar 30-year art teaching career

John Woolfolk Walker, who inspired students in his design and sculpture classes at the Texas A&M College of Architecture from 1979-1994, passed away Jan. 19, 2018 at age 79.

In his 30-year teaching career, Walker, a professor emeritus at the college, employed a passionate, candid and honest approach to art instruction at Texas A&M, the University of Southwestern Louisiana and at Missouri State University.

Walker, who created more than 500 works of art in his lifetime, was often inspired by nature, incorporating birds, insects and flowers in wood and sheet metal sculptures of exquisite craftsmanship.

His work is on display at the Springfield Art Museum in Missouri, El Paso Museum of Art and locally at the Texas A&M University Medical Science Library and [Peckerwood Garden] (http://www.peckerwoodgarden.org) in Hempstead, Texas.

A master gardener as well, Walker was an avid propagator of daylilies and volunteer at Peckerwood Garden.

Born in 1938 in Waynesboro, Georgia, Walker later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Georgia in Athens.

He is survived by his partner of 25 years, Catherine Swanteson; Susan Clark and Jack Clark; his son Pete Walker and wife Lubna Sheet; his daughter Marty Walker; and his sister Louise Walker and husband Chris Agruss. He is also survived by his grandchildren Jamilah and Mayah Walker, his niece Sloane Agruss, and niece and nephew Ginny and Jay Whitaker.

Funeral services will be scheduled at a later date. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorials should be sent to Friends of Peckerwood Garden, 20559 FM 359, Hempstead, TX 77445 or www.peckerwoodgarden.org.

Sarah Wilson
swilson@arch.tamu.edu