
Visitation
Funeral Mass
Entombment
Obituary of Richard B Walker
Richard B. Walker, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 93. Born on June 17, 1931, in Cleveland, Ohio, Richard was the son of Bernard and Celia Walker. He grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland. Richard lived in several places throughout his life which included Lake Forest, Illinois, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, Bernardsville, New Jersey, and most recently, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, where he enjoyed his retirement years
Richard is survived by his devoted wife, Ruth, with whom he shared nearly 72 years of marriage, having tied the knot on July 25, 1953. Also survived by their loving children; daughter Deborah (Debbie) and her children Jennifer, Kevin, Jacqueline (Jackie) & David; son Mark and his wife Perrin and their children Perrin (Perri) and Kelsey; son Jeffrey and his wife Laurie and their children Finley and Gwenan; and James (Jim) and his wife Joanna and their children Grace, Nicholas (Nick) and Jessica, who continue to carry forward his legacy of love and strength. He was also a cherished great-grandfather to Jamesby, Will, Lucy, Harrison, Weston, Addison, Harper Rose, and Atlas. He is also survived by his siblings, Joan Hoelscher, Ralph Walker, and David Walker.
Richard's educational journey began at Cleveland Benedictine High School, where he graduated in 1949. He then attended Ohio University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, cum laude, in 1953. Richard's leadership skills emerged early as he served as President of the Phi Kappa fraternity and captain of the debate team. He furthered his education with a Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve, completing the degree through dedicated night school studies.
Professionally, Richard had a remarkable career. He began with Republic Steel and Ferro Engineering in their Training Development Program, focusing on Audit Development and Product Development. He served honorably as a Reserve Officer in the Air Force from 1954 to 1956, where he was the Adjutant of the 1st Fighter Squadron in the Air Defense Command in Long Island, New York. For 45 years, Richard was a respected management consultant and an original founding member of the Institute of Management Consulting. He held the position of National Director and President of the New York City Chapter in the 1980s, specializing in Strategic Planning and Organizational Change across various industries, including steel, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and entertainment.
Richard's career also included a notable three-year tenure as Executive Vice President of the American subsidiary of Holland Aluminum/Estel Steel, where he played a significant role in providing materials for iconic structures, including New York City’s World Trade Center.
In addition to his professional commitments, Richard was an active member of various clubs and organizations, including the NYC Sky Club, Nassau Club of Princeton, Mill River Country Club, Huntington Country Club, Roxiticus Country Club, Knollwood Country Club, and the New York Metropolitan Opera, where he was a patron.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 from 10:00 - 12:00pm. Funeral Mass will follow at 12pm at St. James Church, 184 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. Entombment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Basking Ridge. For further information, or to leave an online condolence message please visit www.gcfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates ) which is an organization made up of community volunteers who stand up and speak out to help abused and neglected children while assist them in the foster care system.
https://www.casamsc.org/ways-to-give/send-tribute-card.html
If you prefer to send a check---
CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties
222 Ridgedale Avenue, Suite 300
Cedar Knolls, New Jersey 07927