David Ross Walker

On Wednesday, March 6, 2019, David "Dave" Ross Walker, a loyal friend, a loving brother, father and grandfather passed away at the age of 68 at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ. Dave was born on December 5, 1950 in Neptune, NJ to McRae and Bertha Mae (Burke) Walker. After a happy and a bit rebellious adolescence, Dave joined the United States Marine Corps in 1970 and bravely served our country overseas during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, as well as a Rifle Marksmanship Badge before being honorably discharged in December of 1972. After completing his service, Dave moved to Hawaii, and continued to pursue his passion for travel and adventure before returning to New Jersey, where he would soon meet his future wife. On November 2, 1980, Dave married Barbara Ann (Haker) Walker in Freehold, NJ. Together, the couple raised two daughters, Lindsay Marie Schneider (Walker) and Ashley Christine Hughes (Walker) in Jackson, NJ. While Dave had numerous jobs throughout the years, he truly succeeded in finding happiness and fulfillment during his tenure at Proctor & Gamble. In a way, his career enabled him to do many of the things he loved and enjoyed in life, and all while getting paid for it! It allowed him to pursue his love of travel and meeting new people especially when he was given the opportunity to relocate to company headquarters in Cincinnati in 2011. Additionally, it allowed him to pursue his love of acquiring items he didnt need or use but refused to get rid of as P&G both incentivized and rewarded their employees with free products on a regular basis. After 18 years of loyal service and an entire garage filled with Crest toothpaste, Oil of Olay creams, Tide products and various pieces of random travel gear embosomed with the P&G logo, Dave happily retired to Naples, FL in 2014 where he would continue his everlasting search for bargains. David is survived by Barbara Walker, his daughter Lindsay (Walker) Schneider and her husband Matthew Schneider, his daughter Ashley (Walker) Hughes and her husband Don Hughes, and his beloved grandchildren, Hudson Schneider, Kennedy Schneider and Harper Hughes. Sadly, Dave didnt have the chance to meet his fourth grandchild as Baby Boy Hughes is due to arrive in June. Ashley and Don have decided that his middle name will be David to express what a loving father and grandfather he was. Dave is also survived by his older brother, Doug Burke and his wife Linda Burke and his sister Linda Roszel. He was predeceased by his brother Edward Burke and have hopefully since been reunited. Dave was a proud member of the Millstone Elks and VFW, he loved to cook, golf, watch the NY Jets and Yankees, jelly doughnuts, Jack Daniels, Pete and Eldas and anything related to Christmas or birthdays. He was a man who always made sure that he got you a card for even the most insignificant event or holiday just to show those he loved just how much he cared. Dave never met a person he couldnt talk to for hours, was faced with a question he didnt know the answer to, nor could he ever, under any circumstance, resist the urge to give detailed driving directions, including, but not limited to, naming every street, intersection and business establishment that one may pass, even though there was never a need since Google maps exists. He was a very private, proud, and stubborn man who hated to show any sign of weakness or vulnerability even in his final hours. To many Dave was somewhat of an enigma; however, the one thing everyone can agree on is how much he loved and cherished every moment he spent with his family, especially his girls and his grand-babies. Whenever you find yourself missing Dave, simply look up at the stars. Stars are openings in heaven where our loved ones shine down. Dave is now our star. A service will be held on Friday, March 22nd at 1:30pm at the B/G William C Doyle Veterans Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ followed by a Celebration of Life and Remembrance from 3pm-6pm at The Sand Bar in Brielle, NJ. For memorial contributions, the family has designated the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation (donate.fallenpatriots.org) to honor Daves proud service in the U.S. Marine Corps and to help the families of veterans in need - Semper Fi.