Lanny Walker

Lanny Allen Walker, 64, of Jackson died Friday, Oct. 31, 2003, at his home.

He was born Oct. 4, 1939, in Owensboro, Ky., son of Joseph Allen and Hazel Sanders Walker. He and Nancy Dorner were married Feb. 11, 1962. He was formerly of Livingston, Texas.

A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as chief master sergeant in 1987. After retiring the Walkers traveled extensively in the U.S. visiting friends and family.

Mr. Walker became executive officer of the Air Force Space Technology Center in Albuquerque, N.M. Of some 4,800 active duty Air Force chiefs, only about 200 hold this top echelon position. He was selected for chief in 1983.

Before his assignment to AFSTC, Chief Walker held the same job at Western Space and Missile Center at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

The chief served 17 years in electronic countermeasures before cross training into the precision measurement equipment laboratory career field. Before becoming the executive officer at Vandenberg AFB, he was logistics electronic equipment monitor at Air Force Systems Command Headquarters at Andrews AFB, Md.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Gary Walker of Jackson, Vincent Walker of Las Vegas, Nev.; his mother of Goldsboro, N.C.; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, with the Rev. Gary Brothers officiating. Military honors will be conducted by officials from Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.