More detail on this person: Colonel James
Madison Walker of Shelbyville, passed away on
December 29, 2013, at the age of 77. Born in rural
Lincoln County, Colonel "Big Jim" Walker rose to
prominence as a highly decorated Army combat
veteran, helicopter pilot, avid hunter,
outdoorsman, and owner of the Quail Valley Hunt
Club in Petersburg, Tennessee.
A 1959 Graduate of the University of Tennessee,
Colonel Walker served on active duty in the United
States Army from August 1959 until October 1981.
He loved his Country and he loved the Army. He
commanded soldiers at every level from platoon to
brigade. He served as a combat helicopter pilot
for three years during the Vietnam War and
received many awards and decorations for heroism,
gallantry, and high achievement in aerial combat
operations against a hostile enemy. In addition to
being a Master Army Aviator, "The Colonel" was
also a tough as nails Army Airborne Ranger.
A lifelong hunter, Colonel Walker owned and
operated the Quail Valley Hunt Club in Petersburg
for over 25 years. He chose to open the hunting
club just a few years after his retirement from
the Army, and after a successful stint as an army
aviation consultant. Big Jim shared his passion
for bird hunting with thousands of hunters from
every skill level. Hunters came from around the
country to bird hunt at Quail Valley, but more
importantly, they came just to spend time and
make friends with the legendary "Big Jim" Walker.
"Big Jim" Walker lived large, loved life, and
loved people. He was an American original and
truly one of a kind. He had thousands of friends
and friendships that he loved and cherished very
much, but his proudest accomplishment was his
family. He was preceded in death by his father,
James Edwin Walker; and his mother, Clara Estelle
Edde Walker.
He is survived by a sister, Linda Thompson; and a
brother, Charles Michael Walker. He is also
survived by his wife of over 58 years, Jane Gillum
Walker, and three sons; and daughter-in-laws,
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) James Madison
Walker, Jr. and Niki Styles Walker; Robert Carl
Walker and Dr. Laura Cox; and Joseph Mark
Walker and Teresa Beard Walker. He is survived by
ten grandchildren: Amanda Walker Durham, Dr.
Sarah Walker Metelka, Jessica Leigh Walker,
Emily Jane Walker, James Madison Walker III,
Claire Edde Walker, Samuel Joseph Walker,
Rachel Marie Walker, James Clay Walker, and
Benjamin Matthew Walker. He is also survived by
two great-grandchildren: Amelia Grace Durham and
Hanna Claire Durham.
Visitation for Colonel Walker will be from 3-7
p.m. on Sunday, January 5, 2014, at The Lynchburg
Funeral Home, located at 1630 Fayetteville
Highway, Lynchburg, Tennessee. Funeral Services
will begin at 9:30am on Monday, January 6, 2014,
at The Lynchburg Funeral Home. An Interment
Service will begin at 2 p.m. at the Middle
Tennessee Veterans Cemetery located at 7931
McCrory Lane in Nashville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations
be made to either the Sarah Cannon Fund, 310 25th
Avenue North, Suite 103, Nashville, TN 37203, or
the Army Aviation Association of America
Scholarship Foundation, Inc., 593 Main Street,
Monroe, CT 06468.
Published in The Tennessean on Jan. 3, 2014
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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