Highland Cemetery

Durant, Bryan County, Oklahoma

© Holmes Coffey Murray Funeral Home
Submitted by: Terry Dudley

Arnold Dean Walker

May 7, 1935 ~ October 6, 2025

A memorial service for Arnold Dean Walker, of Durant, OK, who passed away peacefully on October 6th, 2025 will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Durant. The Reverend John Hiller will officiate.

Arnold was born March 7, 1935 near Blair, Oklahoma to Arnold H. and Iona Z. Walker. Arnold D. Walker, a member of the Southeastern Oklahoma State University faculty from 1959 to 1997, was a native of southern Oklahoma. He was born near Blair, Oklahoma where he attended school until his junior year. He grew up on a farm, irrigating mainly cotton and alfalfa crops, a farm producing most of their food needs. His family moved to Caddo, Oklahoma in 1952 where he graduated from high school in 1953. He and his wife, Ruth Ann Sawyers, started dating while both were students at Southeastern. He married Ruth Ann Sawyers in Caddo, Oklahoma on Friday, September 13, 1957. According to Arnold, it was his lucky day.

He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry and master's degree in physical chemistry from the University of Oklahoma, and in addition, he performed graduate studies at both lowa State University and Oklahoma State University. He began a teaching career at Southeastern in 1959 and taught there for 39 years. He was chair of the Department of Physical Sciences for nineteen years, 1969 to 1988, and was actively involved in the planning and care of the present science building. For most of his career at Southeastern, he was the premedical advisor, successfully counseling and advising a large number of students accepted into medical schools. His fondest teaching memories were rooted in the successes of his students. Teaching was fun for him. He enjoyed applying science to everyday life.

He received the Teacher of the Year honor from Blue Key National Honor Fraternity in 1968, the 2001 Distinguished Former Faculty Award, Outstanding Educator of America Award in 1974, Outstanding Instructor Award for The Region VI Math/Science Center in 1995, and the John Collier Camp Fire Girls Award in 1975. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, National Science Teachers Association, Oklahoma Science Teachers Association, Oklahoma Committee on Chemical Education, Alpha Chi Sigma (Professional Chemistry Society), Sigma Xi and Phi Lambda Upsilon (Honorary Chemical Society). The Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges named him Associate Professor Emeritus of Chemistry in 1997. He was a science consultant to many area schools and industrial firms. He was a great supporter of Southeastern.

He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Durant, the Fidelis Sunday School class and Wesley Foundation Campus ministries. Arnold loved traveling, reading, fishing, cooking, and reunions with family, extended families, and friends. He had a special love for western Oklahoma, the Salt and North Forks of Red River and the beauty of the Wichita mountains. He and his family took many wonderful summer trips together. He was active with the Southeastern Retired Faculty Dinner group, a weekday coffee drinking group consisting of retired SEOSU faculty and staff, the Caddo Alumni Association, serving as its president in 1984 and for years as alumni historian.. For many years he was active in Lions Club, serving as Durant Lions Club President in 1977-78.

He loved attending school events in which his grandchildren were involved. He enjoyed most sporting events, especially his home office and computer work with photo editing, travel albums and the completion of the 5th Edition of his family cookbook "Okie Vittles by Family and Friends." He was a "fixit" person and was noted for his peach cobblers and homemade breads, chairing for many years the First United Methodist Church's Bean Luncheon for missions and the Durant Teacher Appreciation Salad Luncheon from which recipes were collected, resulting in the "Salad ABCs" cookbook. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Debra Ann Sears, brother-in-law Buddy Allen and one double cousin (like a brother) Nolan Walker. He is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Ruth Wortham and husband Jimmy of Whitewright, Texas; his son-in-law, Beryl Sears of Durant, Oklahoma, a sister, Margaret Allen of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Neta Walker of Blair, Oklahoma; one granddaughter, Brittney Goldthwaite and husband, Matt, of Van Alstyne, Texas; two grandsons, Brent Sears of Hendrix, Oklahoma & Blane Wortham and wife, Maggie, of Van Alstyne, Texas; four great grandchildren Ava, Walker, Townsend, & Clayton, along with a multitude of family and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 518, Durant, OK 74702, or a charity of choice.

Services are under the direction of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home, 121 North 5th Street, Durant, Oklahoma 74701. www.holmescoffeymurray.com