Karen Walker
On June 15, 1952, Kenneth Ray Walker, aka “Kenny
Ray or Ken" was born to the late James Gotry Walker (1917-
1998) and Queen Esther (Radney) Walker (1921-1979) in
Gethsemane, Arkansas. He was the third son of five
boys and one girl -- James “Billy” (1947-2003), Charley
Henry “Skippy’’, Glen Edward “Pokey” (1954-2021),
Danny “Butch” (1956-2000), and only sister, Karen
Denise.
Kenny Ray/Ken grew up on his family’s large cotton farm and a home
that was also the community “convenience store” and gas station.
He attended the local elementary school in Gethsemane. In 1970,
he graduated from the J.S. Walker High School in Wabbaseka,
Arkansas. He excelled in academic achievements and became
an excellent piano player. He often played for the school and the
Gethsemane church. He was among the first group of African
American students to participate in the Arkansas AM&N College
Upward Bound Program in 1968. After graduation, he enrolled at AM&N in 1970,
where he participated in the ROTC Program in preparation for military service. In the
summer of 1973 (the end of his junior year in college), he attended the mandatory
ROTC Summer Camp held in Fort Riley, Kansas. It was his first time being outside of
Arkansas. Kenny Ray returned home and decided that military life was not for him.
That summer, he left home and moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, for a short time
where he met a man who told him that San Francisco, California, was the very best city
in America in which to live. After earning enough money for a bus ticket, Kenny Ray
moved to the “Bay City,” where he lived out the rest of his life.
He professed a belief and faith in Jesus Christ during his early years
as a member of the Gethsemane Baptist Church. During his years
in San Francisco, he participated in a Christian ministry near his
residence.
From an early age, Kenny Ray was incredibly meticulous about his
grooming and appearance. Unlike many with that characteristic, he
was not a “shopper” but very frugal about his life choices. He was
always passionate about being “clean” and was very opinionated concerning those
who were not. Although very conscientious concerning his life choices, Kenny Ray
never married or had children, but he cherished his family, nieces, and nephews.
Kenny Ray was smart, with a “quick wit,” and always told jokes,
making people around him laugh. His first job was at
Ghirardelli Square, a chocolate candy factory at Pier 39 in
Fisherman’s Wharf, the most popular tourist attraction in San
Francisco. He worked at the Historic Sheraton Palace Hotel,
an iconic presence and symbol of world-class service in San
Francisco for many years. After an unfortunate event while
working there and unfortunately fighting with “City Hall,” Kenny
Ray took to a life living off the city of San Francisco simply
because he felt they “owed him.” Although different from the
average person, he was happy in this new life. He became
somewhat of an activist and “street social worker,” talking to everyone he met, joking,
advising on the “city systems,” and truly enjoying his life in his beloved San Francisco.
Kenneth Ray Walker transitioned peacefully in his sleep at home on November 12,
2021. To cherish his memory, he leaves his brother, Charley Henry (Belinda) Walker of
Harvest, Alabama, and his sister, Karen Denise Walker, of Chicago, Illinois. He also
leaves eleven nieces and thirteen nephews, along with a host of other family members
and friends.
In adhering to his end-of-life wishes, Kenny Ray’s
remains will be cremated and scattered at sea near
his beloved San Francisco.
Kenneth Ray Walker was greatly loved and will be
genuinely missed by many.
Ray or Ken" was born to the late James Gotry Walker (1917-
1998) and Queen Esther (Radney) Walker (1921-1979) in
Gethsemane, Arkansas. He was the third son of five
boys and one girl -- James “Billy” (1947-2003), Charley
Henry “Skippy’’, Glen Edward “Pokey” (1954-2021),
Danny “Butch” (1956-2000), and only sister, Karen
Denise.
Kenny Ray/Ken grew up on his family’s large cotton farm and a home
that was also the community “convenience store” and gas station.
He attended the local elementary school in Gethsemane. In 1970,
he graduated from the J.S. Walker High School in Wabbaseka,
Arkansas. He excelled in academic achievements and became
an excellent piano player. He often played for the school and the
Gethsemane church. He was among the first group of African
American students to participate in the Arkansas AM&N College
Upward Bound Program in 1968. After graduation, he enrolled at AM&N in 1970,
where he participated in the ROTC Program in preparation for military service. In the
summer of 1973 (the end of his junior year in college), he attended the mandatory
ROTC Summer Camp held in Fort Riley, Kansas. It was his first time being outside of
Arkansas. Kenny Ray returned home and decided that military life was not for him.
That summer, he left home and moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, for a short time
where he met a man who told him that San Francisco, California, was the very best city
in America in which to live. After earning enough money for a bus ticket, Kenny Ray
moved to the “Bay City,” where he lived out the rest of his life.
He professed a belief and faith in Jesus Christ during his early years
as a member of the Gethsemane Baptist Church. During his years
in San Francisco, he participated in a Christian ministry near his
residence.
From an early age, Kenny Ray was incredibly meticulous about his
grooming and appearance. Unlike many with that characteristic, he
was not a “shopper” but very frugal about his life choices. He was
always passionate about being “clean” and was very opinionated concerning those
who were not. Although very conscientious concerning his life choices, Kenny Ray
never married or had children, but he cherished his family, nieces, and nephews.
Kenny Ray was smart, with a “quick wit,” and always told jokes,
making people around him laugh. His first job was at
Ghirardelli Square, a chocolate candy factory at Pier 39 in
Fisherman’s Wharf, the most popular tourist attraction in San
Francisco. He worked at the Historic Sheraton Palace Hotel,
an iconic presence and symbol of world-class service in San
Francisco for many years. After an unfortunate event while
working there and unfortunately fighting with “City Hall,” Kenny
Ray took to a life living off the city of San Francisco simply
because he felt they “owed him.” Although different from the
average person, he was happy in this new life. He became
somewhat of an activist and “street social worker,” talking to everyone he met, joking,
advising on the “city systems,” and truly enjoying his life in his beloved San Francisco.
Kenneth Ray Walker transitioned peacefully in his sleep at home on November 12,
2021. To cherish his memory, he leaves his brother, Charley Henry (Belinda) Walker of
Harvest, Alabama, and his sister, Karen Denise Walker, of Chicago, Illinois. He also
leaves eleven nieces and thirteen nephews, along with a host of other family members
and friends.
In adhering to his end-of-life wishes, Kenny Ray’s
remains will be cremated and scattered at sea near
his beloved San Francisco.
Kenneth Ray Walker was greatly loved and will be
genuinely missed by many.
