Lonsdale Wirt Walker, Sr., 94, departed this life on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. Wirt was the son of the late Cyril Lee Walker and Grace Bateman Walker of Norfolk, VA. Wirt was predeceased by his wife, Betty Jean Walker, his sister, Mae Jo Nelson, and his brother Cyril Lee Walker, Jr.

Born in Roper, NC on October 25, 1931, he lived and worked on the family farm until his parents moved to Norfolk, VA in the late 1940s. Wirt attended Maury High School, played on Maury's baseball team, and graduated in 1949. After high school, he joined the United States Coast Guard and served stateside during the Korean War. He also served in the Virginia National Guard. After his military service, Wirt attended the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary (now ODU) and married Betty Jean McWilliams in 1954. They raised three children, Lon (Heather), Lynne (Roger), and David (Christy) and resided in Virginia Beach, VA. Wirt and Betty Jean were married for 64 years.

Wirt was employed in the banking profession and held various positions at the National Bank of Commerce, Virginia National Bank and People's Bank of Virginia Beach. He left banking in the mid 1970s and started his own janitorial business, Klean Kare, Inc. which he worked in until the age of 86. He also worked for Carter Luck Real Estate Company selling commercial real estate.

Wirt loved acting and was involved in many community theater productions. He performed with the Little Theater of Norfolk and the Little Theater of Virginia Beach. He was also an avid sports fan and followed both college and professional baseball and football. In his younger days, he hunted fowl and would travel to Pennsylvania with friends and their hunting dogs to hunt pheasant. Wirt was a member of the Lions Club and Lynnhaven United Methodist Church.

In his later years, he lived at his daughter's home in Windsor, VA. Besides his three children, Wirt leaves behind 17 grandchildren, their respective spouses and a host of great grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the staff, nurses and doctors at Obici Hospital in Suffolk, VA and the Lake Prince Woods Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Center in Suffolk, VA for their wonderful care and expertise when Wirt was a patient. We would also like to thank the Veterans Association for their help and support. Thanks also go out to the many family members who devoted their time and energy caring for Wirt in the last several years of his life.

Funeral services will be private. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Norfolk, VA. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to contribute to the Disabled American Veterans (help.dav.org) or the American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org) in Wirt's memory. Post condolences on parrfuneralhome.com.