Gladys Walker
Gladys Elizabeth Carroll Walker, 94, of Dayton, passed away Monday afternoon, January 6, 2020, at Hospice of Chattanooga.
Gladys was a true Proverbs 17:11 woman born on June 2, 1925, in Chattanooga to the late James Walter and Claudine Elizabeth (Welch) Young.
She was the wife of Raymond Eugene “Gene” Carroll for 43 years and her five children were from their marriage. After being widowed, she married Clarence E. “Beck” Beckner who preceded her in death. Gladys was also preceded in death by her youngest son, Jimmy Carroll; her siblings, Alma Harbison, Hershell Young and Walter Young; her beloved son-in-law, Phil Tingle; daughter-in-law, Devonnia Carroll; and step-son, Jim Walker.
Gladys is survived by her husband of almost 15 years, Ralph Walker of Dayton; her children, Judy Tingle, Joan Carroll, Bob (Carolyn) Carroll and Wanda (Wincel) Morris all of Hixson; step-daughters, Kathy (Greg) Rogers of Battle Creek, MI and Sandy Martin of Ringgold; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; three step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren. She was also grandmama to the many friends of all her children who loved being in her circle and visiting her home.
After living in Hixson for most of her first 80 years of life, she shared residences in both Hixson and Dayton. She loved without judgement or criticism and was the first to embrace the hurting. Gladys loved to laugh and share over a cup of coffee or a feast. Laughter and smiles were what most would remember about her on first recall. Gladys taught Sunday school over the years to young children and adults, worked in Bible school and nursery. She was a kindergarten teacher for 17 years at Pro-re-Bona, Ridgedale Baptist and Hixson First Baptist Churches. Hixson First Baptist was her home church and she loved singing and participating in the sanctuary choir for most of the 45 years she was a member. She moved to her husband’s church in 2005 when she became a member of Dayton Family Worship Center, serving faithfully in that church as well. She wrote and self-published a wonderful, simplistic book about a close friend’s walk of faith that had inspired her. It is titled “Finding Your Place of Peace”. We are sure she has found hers.
Funeral services for Gladys will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with her son, Pastor Bob Carroll and Pastor Dustin Gilbert officiating. Burial services will be held on Thursday at noon in the Chapel of Devotion at Hamilton Memorial Gardens in Hixson.
Please share your memories of Gladys on her online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com.
The family is being cared for by the Vanderwall Funeral Home where they will receive friends Wednesday after 4 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and to the Ronald McDonald House.