Annie Winstead Walker passed away July 16, 2023 at the age of 92. She was born October 30, 1930 in House, Mississippi to Leslie Winstead and Essie Winstead. Annie married Vernon C. Walker, of Houston, August 6, 1951 in House, Mississippi. They lived in Houston, Texas for 25 years. They were married until June 25, 2017 when Vernon passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s. Ann was a member of First Baptist Church of Allen.
She graduated as Valedictorian from House High School in 1948. After high school Annie graduated from East Central Junior College in 1950 with a degree in General Business. Right after school she moved to Houston, Texas to live with her sister and her husband Wilma and Grady Adcock. It was there that she met Vernon.
As a smart, detail-oriented person, Ann was highly motivated and advanced quickly in her career to become an Executive Secretary and later a Purchasing Agent with Transco. When she retired from Transco, she obtained her Texas Real Estate License and became a captive salesperson for Doyle Stuckey Homes in Houston. After she left Doyle Stuckey homes, she and Vernon moved to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas where she obtained her Real Estate Brokers License and worked with the leading real estate company in Hot Springs. They returned to Texas in 1985 and started a successful glass business, Southwest Glass, in Austin, Texas. After they sold that company, they moved to Atlanta, GA for several years, until they returned to Hot Springs Village. Texas continued to call, and in retirement, they moved to Tyler, TX where she enjoyed east Texas until they finally relocated to Allen, Texas in 2007 to be close to their son Wayne and his family.
Ann was an avid reader and loved books of all kinds. She was an exceptional “home cook” and loved to entertain. There was always food at her house, and you could be sure that you wouldn’t leave hungry. Ann had a way with people and they loved her. If you met her, you knew she was something special. To this day, the adult children of some of her friends regularly stay in touch with calls, flowers and visits. While she only had one son, she would tell you that she raised two more. She was a special friend to many that knew her.
Fortunately for Vernon, who had a bit of wanderlust, Ann shared the same love for traveling. Vacations to Mexico, Germany, Switzerland and 48 states, were fun trips that they enjoyed. There was nothing they would rather do than hop in the car and take off. While some of their trips were well planned, they were famous for loading up and hitting the road just to see where they ended up. And those travels took them all over this beautiful country. From Montana to the Northeast, they pretty much covered the 4 corners of America. Branson was a favorite and always a fun trip, especially in the spring or fall when there was spring budding or fall color.
Her grandchildren, Clint and Natalie, were special to her. She was always available to “keep the kids” if needed and did sneaky things like try to get them to take their first steps and walk while Dotty and Wayne were out of town. She was known for sneaking in a taste of buttermilk or some other awful thing to the kids when they were babies to see their reaction. This was high entertainment for her.
Finally, if you knew Ann, you knew about her sense of humor. She was quick with a smile and always had a joke or entertaining story – from chopping cotton as a little girl on the family farm or the sibling shenanigans that happened in the field to some of the funniest jokes you’ve ever heard. With a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye, you knew that she enjoyed her life.
Annie is survived by her son, Wayne Walker and wife, Dotty; grandchildren, Clint Walker and wife, Whitney, Natalie Graham and husband, Dennis; great grandchildren, Delaney, Remy, Ethan, and Wyatt; sister, Beth Howington and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Clinton Walker.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 26, 2023 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make a gift to the Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas, TX. Call 214-559-7650 or visit the website: ScottishRiteForChildren.org