The family and friends of Dr. John Walke will gather Monday at 10:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church with Dr. Don Wilson officiating to pay tribute to a man who touched many with his kind and gentle nature. Arrangements handled by North's Funeral Home 242 Orange St. Dr. Walke was born June 24 1944 in Dallas Texas to John Edwin and Josephine White Walke. He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1962 and from Rice University in 1966 with a degree in physics. While studying for his master's degree in physics at the University of Chicago he met the love of his life Martha Tucker. They were married in 1968 and together attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston graduating in 1973. He served a residency in internal medicine at Charles S. Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City NY and was chief resident his third year. His pulmonary fellowship was split between Wilson Memorial and the University of Vermont. In 1978 he and Martha moved to Abilene and opened their medical practices. John practiced at Hendrick Medical Center until his retirement in 2004 serving for nearly 20 years as the Director of the Respiratory Therapy Department and teacher in the respiratory therapy training program. He was always conscious of the needs of the staff and was renowned for telling elephant jokes to lighten everyone's mood. In 1992 he pioneered the opening of the hyperbaric therapy department at Hendrick and for several years was the only HBO practitioner in Abilene. Dr. Walke was also a man of God. He served as an elder and a charter member of Abilene Community Church and more recently as a deacon and member of the handbell choir of First Christian Church. John is survived by his wife Dr. Martha Walke; mother Jo Walke and sisters Linda Walke and Jean Walke. He and Martha had five children; Cari and Dennis Snell and their son Cass John and Jessica Walke and their three boys John Zachary Joshua and Jesse Thomas and Stephanie Walke and their daughter Victoria Talitha and Austin Mullins and Caleb Walke. He was loved by a wide circle of friends and will be sorely missed. In recent years since his retirement John has stayed active with volunteer work through the Gideons Global Samaritan Resources BOBS Meals on Wheels and was looking forward to working with his grandson in Boy Scouts. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to any of the aforementioned organizations. Online condolences may be sent to www.northsfuneralhome.com