CLEVELAND - Ursin "Pete" Stuart Walker, age 87, of Cleveland, MS passed away on Wednesday April 6, 2016 at his home.
Visitation will be held Friday April 8, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland. Celebration of Life Service will follow 2:00 PM in the First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary. Reverend Michael McLaughlin will officiate the service with remarks by Dr. Macklyn Hubbell. Burial will be at the New Cleveland Cemetery.
Pete was born on Easter Sunday April 08, 1928 in Lumberton, MS to Ursin and Anne (Stuart) Walker. He married the former Margaret Manning in Cleveland in 1950. He graduated from the Mississippi State University where he obtained his B. S. Degree, M. Ed Degree from Mississippi State University and also played football for the MSU Bulldogs. After graduation he played football for the U. S. Army for two years. He returned to Mississippi State later to be the first person to ever earn an Ed. D. degree from the University. While pursuing his Doctoral degree, Pete worked as the first athletic academic counselor for Mississippi State. Pete and his family lived in Cleveland from about 1955. He taught high school classes and coached at Cleveland High School. He then began working at Delta State University where he served as a professor of Education, Director of Counselling and Dean of Students. He was in the Lion's Club for several years and served as both District Governor and President of the Mid-South Sight Foundation. He was a co-founder of the Delta Area Senior Golf Association where he formed many friendships while enjoying the game he so loved. He was named the 2009 Charity Ball King by the Cleveland Junior Auxiliary, and was a member of Habitat for Humanity. Pete was faithful member of First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, where he served as Sunday School teacher, Deacon and Elder. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, Two sisters; Hazel Riley and May Colladay and two brothers; Victor Walker and Lavelle Walker.
He is survived by Wife of 66 years, Margaret Manning Walker of Cleveland, MS. his Daughter, Becky Knighton of Cleveland, MS. Son, Earl (Glenda) Walker of Starkville, MS. And two Grandchildren, Stuart (Jamie) Knighton of Madison, MS and Ally Walker of Starkville, MS.
Pallbearers are Matthews Crockam, Maurice Burton, Larry Sappington, Sam Dunning, Robert Heslep and Paul Janoush.
Honorary pallbearers are Dr. David Walt, Dr. E. E. (Butch) Caston, Dr. Bill Middleton and Tom Janoush.
Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church 1100 MS Hwy 8 Cleveland, MS 38732 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38501
Cleveland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The On-line guest register may be viewed and signed at
www.clevelandfuneralhome.net.