George Walker

KEZAR FALLS — George Edwin Walker, 81, of Scarborough and Marco Island, Fla., formerly of Kezar Falls, passed away Monday, Nov. 24, 2014 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House surrounded by his loving wife and children. George was a well-respected man, and a true gentleman.
He was born on May 27, 1933 in Brownfield, to Perley L. Walker and Edna Libby Walker. He was educated in Brownfield schools, graduating from Fryeburg Academy. He attended Burdett College in Boston, Mass. graduating in 1952 with a degree in Business Administration. He enlisted in the Army soon after graduation. He married the love of his life, Ruth-Elizabeth Garner on July 6, 1957. They had met when Ruth’s brother, Bill, brought him home for dinner when they traveled together home from college in Boston.
George began his automotive career in 1957, when he started working at the small dealership, E.R & P.L. Walker Chevrolet, which his father and two uncles had started in 1923 in Brownfield. In 1962, he moved the business to Kezar Falls to a larger facility. It was here that he made a name for himself as a well-respected businessman. Though Chevrolet automobiles were his passion, he did take on Chrysler as a franchise in 1982 and then added a Jeep franchise in 1992. During his time in the automobile business, he served on the Maine Auto Dealers Association (MADA) Insurance Trust as a trustee from 1984-2003, serving as the chairman from 1991-2003. He was a member of MADA from the time he purchased the dealership in 1962 to his retirement in 2008. In 2000, he was recognized with the TIME Magazine Quality Dealer Award (TMQDA) in Orlando, Fla. This award recognizes new car dealers for exceptional performance in the dealerships and distinguished community service sponsored by TIME Magazine in association with Goodyear and NADA. The automobile business was his life. When his three children were growing up, a Sunday outing always consisted of “taking a look” at the lots of other dealerships. While a car dealer, George earned many trips that sent he and Ruth-Elizabeth traveling all over the world. After he retired, they continued to take trips and cruises with friends as they both loved to see new places.
In 1981, George and Ruth-Elizabeth purchased a retirement condo in Marco Island, Fla. Before his retirement, he would fly down for a few weeks at a time and eventually upon retirement they resided there for six months out of the year. He became a member of the Hideaway Beach Club and it was there that George discovered his absolute love for golf. He could be seen on the course at Hideaway Beach at least five days of the week or traveling with the men’s group to other courses. On March 5, 2003, he achieved a Hole-In-One award at Naples Lakes Golf Course in Naples, Fla., where a plaque to this honor is displayed in his home. He was also a past member of the Willowdale Golf Course in Scarborough. In his retirement years, he was able to relax and enjoy his grandchildren and most recently his great-granddaughter. He always had a special hug, wave, or a story to tell to them all.
While in Maine, he also was a member of the Kezar Falls-Cornish Kiwanis club as a lifetime member and enjoyed the time spent doing civic service for his community. He was active in his community serving on the SAD 55 school board from 1966-1983, a trustee of Fryeburg Academy from 1977 to 2008, serving on the board of Sanford Savings and Loan for many years, a member of the Sacopee Valley Fair Association and was a past president, a past board member of Bridgton Hospital, was active in the development of the Parsonsfield Recycles Committee and a member of the Riverside United Methodist Church in Kezar Falls and also attended the Men’s Group breakfasts there for many years.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Ruth-Elizabeth; three children, Joanne (Walker) McKenney of Parsonsfield, Jayne Walker of Scarborough and Dean Walker of Limington; five grandchildren all of whom he loved dearly; one great-granddaughter; a brother, Richard Walker of Nantucket, Mass.; as well as several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 at 2 p.m. at the Riverside United Methodist Church in Kezar Falls (Porter). Arrangements are with Watson, Neal & York Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed at: www.wnyfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest donations to: Riverside United Methodist Church, PO Box 26, Parsonsfield, ME 04047 or Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, c/o Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.