Biography:

Dr. George Ralph Walker was born on the 21st of October, 1932 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chatham, Ontario. He was the 2nd of 4 children born to Dr. Ralph Hiram Walker and the former Ruby Esther Crosbie.  Dr. Walker had an older brother named James Robert Walker.  His brother Theodore died in infancy and his sister Margaret was stillborn.  At the time of Dr. Walker’s birth, the Walker family resided in Thamesville where Dr. Ralph Walker had a busy family medical practice.

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 in December of 1956.  Mrs. Walker was born in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan in 1935, 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 4 children.  They had 3 sons; David, Mark and Stephen and a daughter Susan.

In their spare time, Dr. and Mrs. Walker enjoyed sailing and golfing.

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

Mrs. Walker died 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 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.