Maj. Robert Eugene Walkup, (Ret.)

  Maj. Robert Eugene Walkup, (Ret.), 89 years of age, passed away on February 18, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. 

  Funeral service will be held in the Galbreaith Pickard Hilltop Chapel, at 4941 I-20 Frontage Rd, Willow Park, Texas 76087, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Interment in Laurel Land Memorial Park, in Fort Worth, Texas, will follow at 12:30 p.m.

  Maj. Robert Eugene Walkup was born in Dawson, West Virginia, to Miller Henry Walkup and Cleo Vernie Anderson. He finished high school in Dawson and went on to obtain a Master’s Degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He served in the United States Air Force for twenty-three and a half years. First, as an enlisted airman setting fuses on nuclear bombs and missiles; then he traveled the world in special operations as the maintenance officer for C-130 aircraft. Following retirement from the U.S. Air Force, he was employed by Aeroespaciel, General Dynamics and Vought Aircraft as a logistician. 

  His passions included woodworking, traveling and gardening. After Keith, his son, gifted him with a school specializing in Sam Maloof style rocking chairs, Robert went on to build many of them as well as beautiful other items of wood in his shop in North Carolina. One of his chairs served as The Chair for the Speaker of the House of the North Carolina Legislature. He enjoyed hiking the Appalachian Trail, camping the trail, and supporting the local DAV activities. He drove veterans from Haywood County to the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina, visited veterans in hospitals and nursing homes and assisted in various fund raisers for veterans in need. As Farmer Bob, he sold his beautiful organic produce at the Haywood County Farmers’ Market for several years. He generously supported the Friends of the Library with his time and donations.

  He was preceded in death by his father; mother; eight siblings; and his first wife, Shirley; and two of their children. 

  He is survived by his wife, Juanita Walkup; two sons, Keith and Mark; his stepdaughter, Tanya Stracener; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; fifteen nephews; and two nieces.

  Condolences may be left in Robert Walkup’s name on Galbreaith Pickard’s online guestbook at www.galbreaithpickard.com. 

  The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff of James L. West Dementia Care Center, in Fort Worth, Texas, for their excellent care of Robert and support of his family during his stay there. Also, the care and respect provided by staff of the Veterans’ Administration Hospital and Hospice Center during his final days are deeply appreciated.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

By Robert Frost