William Walker, a long-time Virgin Islands resident who contributed frequently to The BVI Beacon, died suddenly on April 15 at his West End home. He was 75.
Mr. Walker, who was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1937, first visited the Virgin Islands with his wife Anne in 1976 after a friend recommended the territory as a snorkelling destination, Ms. Walker said.
They returned frequently thereafter, and built a house in West End in 1980.
While working for a Canadian firm, the McGill University-trained engineer helped establish the territory’s first incinerator in Pockwood Pond under then-Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt, according to his wife.
“He and his junior engineer came down and did the analysis of the waste stream as produced by the BVI: sorting the garbage themselves, weighing it,” Ms. Walker explained, adding, “They wanted him to become a manager of the plant, and he decided that would not be a good idea.”
After the Walkers retired here permanently in 1993, Mr. Walker began volunteering in the community.
A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Zion Hill Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the Walkers request that donations be made to the BVI Humane Society.
See the April 25, 2013 edition for full coverage.
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