JOE ANDREW WALKER

Mr. Joe Andrew Walker, age 75, of Andalusia, passed away Sat., Sept. 30, 2017, at his residence. Mr. Walker retired in 2005 after serving 24 years on the Andalusia Police Department as a dispatcher.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Tues., Oct. 3, 2017, at Keahey Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Andalusia Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Mon., Oct. 2, 2017, at Keahey Funeral Home.

Joe is survived by his brother, Willie Stark (Bonnie) Walker of Andalusia; and his sister, Ruby Nall (Earl) of Andalusia; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

 

RONALD R. PITTS

Ron was born in 1949 in Andalusia. His parents, Ray (John R. Pitts) and Dolly Thompkins were married in 1947, after Ray returned from duty in North Africa during WWII.

Ron attended school in Andalusia, played baseball and basketball, while also playing drums in the band. He taught drum lessons on weekends and during the summer. He attended college initially on a music scholarship and played with both the New Orleans and Birmingham symphonies in the timpani and percussion sections.

After his freshman year, he reevaluated his long-term goals and attended the University of Alabama majoring in Communications. While at the university, he had several radio and TV programs. The most memorable of which included a weekly chat with football coach, Bear Bryant, evaluating the games and the strategies during football season.

Ron graduated in 1971 and worked as a manager for a national nutrition chain in Baton Rouge. He was promoted and sent to Savannah, Ga., there he met a member of the Knight family, owners of a radio station in town, and was asked to manage the station. He enjoyed the work and the opportunity to become a part of the community. After the station was sold, Ron returned to school and acquired his CPM (certified property manger) designation.

Ron eventually became the president of the property management group for Life Investors/Aegon/Transamerica. This promotion took him to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the headquarters for the group. A Southern boy used to Southern weather- did not enjoy the climate. As he often said, you didn’t need a freezer, the garage served as one.

After visiting Tucson to inspect a property for the company, he did some exploring and decided he liked the city. He made inquiries about positions in Tucson and took a job with Whitehall Capital in 1985. He met his future wife, Jane Shera, while working at Whitehall.

Ron loved to fish after he retired. He spent time in the Amazon and fished the Niger, fished both coasts of Mexico, Montana, and most particularly New Mexico; Cochti, Rio Grande, Abiqui, and even the Red River. He loved cow creek ranch in the Pecos. Ton made his home in Tucson and Santa Fe, N.M.

He is survived by his wife, Jane; his brother, Gary (John R. Pitts, Susan) of Andalusia; his children, Christopher (Debi) of San Antonio, Patrick (Jen) of Germantown, MD, Elizabeth (Marcus) and Kendree, both of Tucson. He has six grandchildren, Cameron, Philip, Faith, Trinity, Carly and Mason. His niece, Susanna Hall (Lee) and nephew Cory Pitts, both reside in Andalusia.

His days were short, but mostly spent being happy and doing what he wished. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Peppi’s house at: 2715 N. Wyatt Drive, Tucson, AZ 85712 or the Alzheimer’s Foundation at: 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th floor, NY, NY 10001.

A memorial will be held on Oct. 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the Andalusia Country Club.