Delbert Lee Walke, Sr. died peacefully on April 21, 2018 in Rutherfordton, NC at the age of 83. He was known as “D.L” by his friends, “Deb” by his sisters, and “Pappy” by his grandchildren. He is survived by his daughter, Jackie Patten of Wake Forest and his two sons Lee Walke and his wife, Pam and Marty Walke and his wife, Jan, both of Rutherfordton. He has 7 grandchildren: Shannon Walke Bruins of High Point, Mandy Walke of Charlotte, Devyn Walke Brown of Winston-Salem, Anastasia Walke Haulk of Forest City, Anthony Walke of Raleigh, Ethan Walke of Rutherfordton, and Carissa Simpson of Hendersonville along with 4 great grandchildren. D.L is predeceased by his wife, Marian Richardson Walke, two brothers, Gene and Don Walke and survived by three sisters, Doris Bumgartner of Gainesville, FL, Patty Harris of Heathsville, VA, and Martha Mann of Sebastian, FL.
D.L was born in Dayton, Ohio to the late Isaac Dale and Effie Mae Hager Walke and moved with his family from Ohio to Miami, FL. He graduated from Miami Edison High School where he met his high school sweetheart, Marian Richardson in chorus. He continued singing as a lead in a Barbershop Quartet and a Chorus named, The Miamians, who won International Competition in 1965.
He had a love for football and coaching and was a charter member of The Boca Jets in Boca Raton,Fl and later was instrumental in the start up of the Rutherfordton Raiders Youth Football League of Rutherforton.
Most of all, D.L was known for his career as a custom home builder. He began D.L. Walke Construction at the age of 24 in Boca Raton, FL and moved his construction business and family in 1974 to Rutherfordton as he would say, to “God’s Country”. You will see many of his homes built on and around Lake Lure and Rutherfordton today.
A private family memorial and celebration of his life will be sometime this summer. Memorial donations may be sent to Hospice of Rutherford County. Condolences may be sent through Crowe’s Mortuary website: www. crowemortuary.com. The family would like to thank Carolina Home Care, Rutherford Regional Hospital, and Hospice of Rutherford County for their care and dedication.

Our father’s last dying wish was to grow old gracefully and that he did! He will be missed for his warm smile, firm hand shake, generous and caring nature, and his strong love for his family and friends.