Daniel (“Danny,” “Dan”) Matthew Walker passed away on March 3, 2025, in Alpine, Texas. Danny was born on November 4, 1954, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to John and Betty Mae Walker. He grew up in Gonzales, Louisiana, with his sisters Madeline, Lorraine, Sybil and Pam, and brother Johnny. He graduated from East Ascension High School in 1972 and moved to Terlingua, Texas, shortly thereafter.
Danny explored lots of careers/adventures once he got to Texas. He zoomed all over Terlingua Ranch on his dirt bike until he landed a job at the horse concessions in Big Bend National Park as a horseback tour guide. In 1980 he joined the United States Army which took him to Tacoma, Washington, for a couple of years. Danny spent the next decade back in Alpine, where he did HVAC repair, worked at the Glass Shop, and became a licensed electrician. In 1988, Danny took over the Twin Buttes Marina and Park in San Angelo, Texas. He loved fishing, driving his boat, and living on the lake for about four years. In 1993, Danny moved back to Alpine. He always said you couldn’t find a better place to live than Alpine. He eventually went to Sul Ross State University for geology and loved exploring Big Bend and the Rio Grande. He was an amateur astronomer and a HAM radio operator. Dan could talk for hours about the night sky and loved setting up his telescope whenever the occasion would arise. He loved to dance and could often be found getting down to his favorite local band, Spon(taneous) Com(bustion) at the Railroad Blues. And on any given Sunday, he could be found cruising his 1994 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail or working on his homestead.
Along the way, Danny married Mary Musgrave and they had two daughters, Patsy and Danielle. He taught them how to change their oil, back a truck down a boat ramp, dance, and make jambalaya. He loved his girls more than anything. Though Danny and Mary divorced, they remained close friends.
Dan was a fun guy. He loved motorcycle riding, pool playing, wise cracking, learning and building his homestead. He always had time for family and friends. He loved to dance. He loved to laugh and pick guitar. His rendition of Guitarzan is famous!
Danny Walker was preceded in death by his father, mother, sisters Lorraine and Pam, and brother, Johnny. He is survived by his daughters, Patsy (Chris) McWilliams and Danielle Anderson; sisters, Madeline (Danny) Kelley and Sybil Hunt; grandchildren, Timothy (Alexis) Roberts, Madison Bowman, Bobbie (Rance) Hudak, Mary-Anna Roberts, Christian Teague, Colleen McWilliams, Danny Anderson, Jack McWilliams, and Alice McWilliams; and great grandchildren, Avery and Rosalie Roberts and Mindy Sue Hendrix. He is also survived by Mary Musgrave, Jan Cochran, Bryan (Micky) Ritchie, Bruce (Joy) Bates, numerous nieces and nephews, friends, and cousins. Danny was a shining light, true friend, and the best dad ever. He will be truly missed by many.
Private First Class Daniel Walker will be interred at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery Shelter #3 in San Antonio, Texas. Services are scheduled for April 9, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.
