Funeral Mass for Anthony Walko, 80, of Thorndale, will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 8, 2019 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rockdale with the burial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. A visitation will be 6 – 8 p.m. on Thursday at Phillips and Luckey in Rockdale with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Anthony Walko was born on August 20, 1938 in Sharon, PA. He was raised by Mike and June Walko. He went to school in Sharon, PA, but because of family difficulties, he and his three sisters were sent to St. Joes Home in Erie, PA. Thanks to Fr. Jim Sperry and Fr. Ted Carter for their influence. After returning home Tony attended Hickory Township High School in Mercer County, PA. He graduated in 1958 and enlisted in the USAF in 1958. He was assigned to bases in Texas, Mississippi, Germany, Japan, and Nakhum Phanom Thailand-Vietnam before returning home to the US and Texas. He met his wife, Barbara, at Brooks AFB in 1972 and they married in Warren, Ohio on March 9, 1973. They were stationed Ricken Backer AFB and then McDill AFB in Tampa, FL. In 1978, after 20 years of service, he retired and returned to Texas. He went to work for T.U. in 1978. In 1979 the family became his, mine, and ours with the birth of their son, Patrick. After 10 years with T.U., he went to work for TDC until 2006, but continued to work at the Juvenile Detention Center and various other jobs. His best job was playing Santa. It started at McDill AFB for the main entrance guards with Christmas Eve cookies and home visits to base children. He continued after coming to Rockdale with being Santa for the area and riding in the Christmas Parade. He was a 4th degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus and an active member of the VFW. He was a second generation American and found out recently that he was 100% Italian. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mike Walko and June Lattyak, a son, Andy Walko, and a brother-in-law, Ralph Hoffman. Anthony is survived by his wife of 46 years, Barbara Walko of Thorndale; three sons, Ronald Embrey and wife Hazel of Rockdale, Michael Walko of Rockdale, and Patrick Walko of Cypress, TX; a daughter, Nancy Walko of Victoria, TX; four sisters, Beverly Redmond of Sharon, PA, Nancy Hoffman of Sharpsville, PA, Gayle Carlson of Sulfur, LA, and Janice Goodnight of FL; three grandchildren, Jarrette Embrey, Kandece Embrey Barnes, and Kalisha Embery; three great grandchildren, Jalen Wayne, Gavin, and Jaclynn; a special niece, Tina O’Toole and many more extended family. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Anthony Walko please visit our Sympathy Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Anthony Walko August 20 1938 March 1 2019.
Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Rockdale, state: Texas