Funeral services for Avery Merdolph Walker, 99, will be held Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. in the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston, Texas. Interment will follow at Bluff Creek Cemetery in Livingston, Texas. Visitation will also be Saturday, November 19, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. at Cochran Funeral Home Chapel, prior to the service.

Avery Merdolph Walker, one of the Greatest Generation, passed away on November 14, 2022. He was born on January 16, 1923 to parents Jenny Harrell Walker and David Webster Walker of the Soda Community.  He was the oldest of seven children.  Merdolph was an athlete, coach, teacher, mentor, brother, uncle, and friend.  He is survived by one brother, Joe Mike Walker, and two sisters, Pat Yarsa and Alice McDougald as well as several cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews.

His education began at the one-room school house in Soda in 1929. He graduated from Livingston High School in 1941.

His college career began at Sam House State Teachers' College where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. His education was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army on January 27, 1943 during the Second World War. He often told about playing a basketball game at the University of Texas the night before he was to leave Huntsville on a bus to San Antonio for his induction into the Army.  He scored 17 points during that game. After it was over, his coach drove him back to Huntsville and took him to the bus station to leave for San Antonio.

His army career took him to Florida for training and then on to the invasion of Guam and Okinawa. Merdolph was a member of the 1885 ^th Combat of Engineers.  He was proud to be a part of building the runway that was used by the plane that dropped the atomic bomb that ended World War II.  He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946 and returned to Soda.

As soon as he could, he again enrolled in Sam Houston State Teachers' College and continued with his education and athletics.  Merdolph was honored to be named an All-American Athlete in 1946. After graduation from Sam Houston, he played professional football for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Merdolph coached and taught school in Hull-Daisetta for four years and then moved to East Chambers ISD in Winnie, Texas where he taught and coached for another 30 years.  He retired and moved to Soda in 1983.

His honors were many in his athletic and teaching life. He was inducted into the Sam Houston State College Hall of Fame and was the only student ever to letter in three sports in one year: football, basketball, and track.  He was named as one of Livingston's Outstanding Ex-Students and East Chambers School District named one of their buildings after him-"Walker Building."

Merdolph had a rough exterior, a sharp mind, dry wit, and a big heart.  He was loved and respected by his students and friends.  He never met a stranger and could recall names and tell stories about people and events both past and present.  He was devoted to his family, his church, and his community.  Merdolph was truly a man's man and loved the outdoors.  He loved hunting, fishing, gardening, playing card games, and dominos.  He is known for his generosity in sharing his garden produce and will always be remembered for his decency and fairness.

He cherished the many friendships he collected during his life and will be sorely missed by all that knew him.

Pallbearers are his nephews: Garry Wooley, Mark Walker, Clint Walker, Mike Walker, Doug James, Larry James, and Jeff McDougald.

Honorary Pallbearers are: Dave Harrell, John Richardson, Larry Carraway, Clayton Lilley, Bob Laramore, and Carrol Womack

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Soda Baptist Church (8135 US Hwy 190, Livingston, TX 77351).