Champ - Robert Thomas Walker, VP of Dixie Towing and Recovery, passed away suddenly Thursday October 24th of natural causes associated with his long standing heart condition. Champ was 26 years old.
He was born on February 2, 1987 in Jacksonville, Florida. Champ’s paternal family was from Gastonia, North Carolina, and he considered both the beach and the mountains to be his home. He loved relaxing on the warm sunny coast while fishing with his family, and driving on the steep winding roads in the mountains when the air was crisp.
Champ was predeceased by his Grandma and Grandpa Walker and Uncle Jeff Walker.
Survivors include his loving parents Diane and W.R. Walker (FL), devoted brother Buddy Walker (FL);Sisters, Missy Batten husband Jim Bowls (NC), Taylor Walker (FL), Misty McKenzie husband James McKenzie and family (NC);Grandparents, Grandpa Kenny Altman wife Bird (SC), MiMi Virginia Altman husband Lonzo Altman (FL); Uncles, Tim Walker (NC), Bobby Altman (FL), Sammy Altman wife Carole (Fl); Aunts, Donna Ull husband Raymond and family (TX), Essie Walker husband and family (TX), Janice Cashdollar (FL), Dolly Peterson husband Mike and family; as well as numerous cousins and friends.
Champs passions were big trucks and fast cars. He had an entrepreneurial spirit and loved being the boss. When he was seven years old Champ completely disassembled the family’s broken lawn mower and when reassembled, it worked great. His family knew at a young age that he was going far. One of Champ’s earliest businesses was collecting broken bike parts, building new working bikes and then selling them to neighborhood kids. He loved making money. He shared with his father a love of electrical work and in middle school he wired his room with an alarm built from broken VCRs. While he attended high school at Middleburg High he excelled in his electrical classes and thrived on his educational achievements. In his adult life Champ continued to build business with his hands and when starting Walker Enterprises actually built and repurposed the first rollback truck the company used. Becoming the V.P. of Dixie Towing and Recovery was an important point in Champ’s life. He loved working side by side with his brother and father while running the business, rebuilding cars, trucks and motorcycles as well as repoing at night. Champ lived his life always moving forward. He was full of love for his family and friends and he will be missed daily by all who knew him.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 2, at Paxon Revival Center Church, 5461 Commonwealth Ave., Jacksonville, FL.