Donald Russell Walker, 89, died Feb. 17, 2018 at St. Andrews Village in Boothbay Harbor.

Don was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts on Dec. 5, 1928 to Harry R. Walker and Florence E. Walker. He spent most of his formative years in Reading, Massachusetts and graduated with a doctor of science degree in mechanical engineering from MIT in 1954. After two years as a 2nd Lt. U.S. Army Ordnance Corp, he left active duty in 1956 and moved back to Reading. Here he raised his family while working first at Avco Systems Division (now Textron) on reentry vehicle programs as vice president, Marketing and Business Management, and then at Baird Corporation on electro optics and night vision systems as VP and GM, System Division until he retired in October of 1987 and moved to Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

While in Reading, he served as a town meeting member for 29 years, school committee member from 1961-1973, school committee chairman from 1965-1973, helped write the town charter, was a member of the board of directors of the Winchester Hospital, was a member of the Massachusetts Board of Education for five years and chairman for three years, and was a member of the music committee and a deacon of the Reading Congregational Church.

After moving to Maine, he was a member, and on the board of directors of the Boothbay Region YMCA and the Congregational Church Board of Trustees.

Don married Lois E. Hormel on Jan. 1, 1953. They enjoyed a great marriage for over 58 years until Lois passed away on March 16, 2011.

He was also predeceased by his brother Richard Walker of North Carolina.

Survivors include son, David Walker and his wife Sandy of Woodland, Texas; grandson, Lt. Sean Walker, his wife Lorie and great-granddaughter Thaya of Hampstead, North Carolina and Todd Walker of West Hollywood, California; grandchildren Rebecca, Charlie and Megan, daughter Jana Stuart and her husband Bill of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, grandson Billy Stuart and his wife Emily of Framingham, Massachusetts and granddaughter Kerri Stuart of Tewksbury, Massachusetts; brothers, Gary Walker and his wife Linda of Falmouth, Massachusetts, Peter Walker and his wife Eloise of North Carolina; and sister-in-law Carol Walker also of North Carolina. In addition he enjoyed a paternal relationship with Nicky, his AFS exchange student and her husband Jolyon Baldwin of Kew, England, and their daughters Aurelia and Orlanda, and Donna Farnsworth Walker of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Donations may be made in Don’s name to the Congregational Church, 125 Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.

Hall’s of Boothbay has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences please visit www.hallfuneralhomes.com