Fred Walker, 85, of Bay City passed away March 9, 2011. He was born January 19, 1926 in Bay City, TX to the late Thomas Alonzo Walker & Mary Quintilla Hudleston Walker. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church for 85 years where he served on the Building and Grounds Committee for many years and was a member of the Wesley Sunday School Class. He served his country in the US Army during WWII, in which he was awarded a Purple Heart for a combat wound he received in Germany, and was a life member of Philip H. Parker VFW Post 2438 in Bay City.

He joined his mother and sister, Mary Jo Walker, in 1946 at the Southern Seed Store, which later became Walker Seed and Garden Center. The business was originally established in 1917 as the South Texas Seed Company by T. A. Walker. He raised vegetable plants at his home and shipped them all over the United States. In 1926 he started the Southern Seed Store in Bay City, selling vegetable seeds and plants. Fred and his sister continued to operate the business after their mother retired in 1985 until their retirement in 1994.

Fred was a very active civic booster in Matagorda County. In 1954 he was voted Bay City Chamber of Commerce's first Man of the Year. He filmed Bay City Black Cat games from the 1950's to 1970's only missing one game in 20 plus years; Leader of Boy Scout Troop 45 since 1946 receiving the Vigil Honor of Order of Arrow in 1955; was a member of the American Legion for 65 years and was in charge of the Learning to Gardening Program at Linnie-Roberts Elementary school for many years. He spent thousands of hours volunteering at the Bay City Birding and Nature Center from the formative years until failing health prevented him from doing so in the last year. He also spent many hours volunteering for the Matagorda County Museum where he was voted outstanding volunteer in both 1992 and 1996. He served on the board of directors of the Main Street Project's beautification program for several years. He was a committee member for Market Days. He volunteered many years for the Matagorda County Household Hazardous Waste Collection program. He worked for many years on Bay City's landmark designation effort to preserve historically important buildings. Fred was honored by the Bay City Chamber of Commerce as Volunteer of the Year in 1999, along with his sister Mary Jo, and by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1998 as Matagorda County Volunteer of the Year. Perhaps Fred most important work was as a mentor to countless numbers of Bay City's young men between the time he returned from WWII and his death.

His sisters Dorothy Gertrude Ross and Mary Jo Walker, brother Thomas Alonzo Walker, Jr., niece Jean Anne Ross-Smith, and nephew's wife Linda Walker all preceded him in death. Survivors include three nephews, Doug Walker of Montclair, CA, Allan Ross & wife Sallie of Houston, and Ned Smith of Dallas; two nieces, Bonnie Ross of Houston and Kay Hanggie & husband Bob of Upland, CA. He is also survived by great-nephews and nieces Mary Grega & husband Michael of Washington, DC, Eric Hanggie of Upland, CA, Sam Ross of New York City, Susannah Ross of Houston and Melissa Hanggie of Upland, CA; and beloved care-giver Melissa Krause.

Graveside services were 10:00 AM Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City with Rev. Jeff Gantz officiating. Members of the Wesley Sunday School Class served as honorary pallbearers. Please send memorials in Fred's memory to Boy Scout Troop 45, Bay City Birding and Nature Center, First United Methodist Church or charity of your choice.