Joseph “Clyde” Walker Jr., associate director of the Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships at Vanderbilt, died suddenly Sept. 23 after suffering from cardiac arrest. He was 59.
A resident of Franklin, Tenn., Walker had worked in Vanderbilt’s student financial aid office since August 2000, except for a brief departure in late 2005-early 2006 when he took a position with a student lending organization. He was highly regarded within the student financial aid community.
“Clyde was a truly caring person and very dear colleague, always kind and respectful of others, with a sense of humor and a fun personality that we all came to love and appreciate,” said David Mohning, executive director of the Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships. “He will be sorely missed.”
Walker was the former director of student financial aid at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., and at Belmont University in Nashville. He was a beloved member of Gateway Community Church in Franklin and also served as the church’s treasurer.
Walker is survived by his wife, Joanie Walker, of Franklin; sons Dow (Bethany) Walker of Birmingham, Ala., and Garrett (Amber) Walker of Franklin; stepchildren Christy (Cary) Graham, Jennifer (Matt) Gingerich and Matthew Maynard, all of Nashville; a brother, Robert (Patty) Currey of Selma, Ala.; and grandchildren Jakob and Scout Gingerich of Nashville.
A memorial service is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Gateway Community Church, 584 Franklin Rd., Franklin, Tenn., 37067. A reception will follow at the church. Memorial donations may be made to Gateway Community Church.