Name:
George Ralph Walker 
Location served:
Chatham  
Years in Practice:
1959 to 2011
Area of Specialization:
Family Medicine  

Biography:

Dr. George Ralph Walker was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chatham, Ontario on the 21st of October, 1932. Dr. Walker was the 2nd of 4 children born to Dr. Ralph Hiram Walker and the former Ruby Esther Crosbie.  At the time of Dr. Walker’s birth, the Walker family resided in Thamesville, Ontario where Dr. Ralph Walker had a busy family medical practice.  Dr. George Walker’s siblings were; Theodore Walker who was born prematurely died on the 2nd of March, 1927, James Robert Walker who was born on the 9th of October, 1929 and Margaret Elizabeth Walker who was stillborn on the 28th of December, 1943.

Dr. George Walker attended elementary and continuation school in Thamesville before attending Ridgetown District High School.  Dr. Walker went on to study at the University of Western Ontario, where he took pre-medical courses and attended medical school.  He graduated in 1958 and interned at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ontario from 1958-1959.

In 1959, Dr. Walker set up his medical office at 65 Victoria Ave. in Chatham and stayed at this location until his retirement.

Dr. George Walker married Joyce Eleanor Glen at her family’s residence on Victoria Ave. in Chatham on the 22nd of December 1956.  Mrs. Walker was born in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan in 1935.  She was the daughter of Dr. William Frederick Glen and the former Elvira Douglas Belch.  Mrs. Walker had 5 sisters; Barbara “June” Glen, Dorothy-Anne Glen, Heather Eugenie Glen, Donna Jean Glen and Lynn Glen.  Mrs. Walker’s family moved to Chatham in 1946 where her father practiced medicine until his retirement in 1970.

Mrs. Walker was a registered nurse who assisted Dr. Walker in his medical practice on occasion.  Dr. and Mrs. Walker had 3 sons, David, Mark and Stephen and a daughter named Susan.

In their spare time, Dr. and Mrs. Walker enjoyed sailing and golfing.  Dr. Walker enjoyed windsurfer on Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie.  He also enjoyed skiing at Whistler Mountain.

Dr. Walker retired from the practice of medicine in 2011.  In their retirement Dr. and Mrs. Walker enjoyed gardening and travelling.

Mrs. Walker died in Chatham on the 9th of August, 2015.  Dr. Walker died in Chatham on the 1st of September, 2021.  Dr. and Mrs. Walker were buried at the Mayhew-Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Thamesville.  Dr. Walker’s parents and siblings are buried at the same cemetery.  Their beloved daughter Susan, died in Wallaceburg, Ontario on the 18th of September, 2023.

*Dr. Walker’s father Dr. Ralph Hiram Walker and his father-in-law Dr. William Frederick Glen also appear on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.

**Dr. Walker’s father Dr. Ralph Hiram Walker served with the Canadian Armed Services during WWI.