Walko

Funeral Mass for Anthony Walko, 80, of Thorndale will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 8, 2019, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rockdale with burial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 7 at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with a rosary at 7 p.m.

Mr. Walko was born Aug. 20, 1938, in Sharon, Pennsylvania. He was raised by Mike and June Walko. He went to school in Sharon, Pennsylvania, but because of family difficulties, he and his three sisters were sent to St. Joes Home in Erie, Pennsylvania.

After returning home, Mr. Walko attended Hickory Township High School in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

He graduated in 1958 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1958. He was assigned to bases in Texas, Mississippi, Germany, Japan, and Nakhum Phanom Thailand-Vietnam before returning home to the U.S. and Texas.

He met his wife, Barbara, at Brooks Air Force Base in 1972 and they married in Warren, Ohio, on March 9, 1973.

Mr. Walko was stationed at Ricken Backer AFB and then McDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. In 1978, after 20 years of service, he retired and returned to Texas.

He work for T.U. in Rockdale in 1978. 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 favorite job was playing Santa. It started at McDill AFB and continued after coming to Rockdale.

Mr. Walko was a fourth degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus and an active member of the VFW.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mike Walko and June Lattyak; a son, Andy Walko; and a brother-in-law, Ralph Hoffman.

Survivors are his wife, Barbara Walko of Thorndale; three sons, Ronald Embrey and wife Hazel, and Michael Walko, all of Rockdale, Patrick Walko of Cypress; a daughter, Nancy Walko of Victoria; four sisters, Beverly Redmond of Sharon, Pennsylvania, Nancy Hoffman of Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, Gayle Carlson of Sulfur, Louisiana, Janice Goodnight of Florida; three grandchildren, Jarrette Embrey, Kandece Embrey Barnes and Kalisha Embrey; three great-grandchildren, Jalen Wayne, Gavin, and Jaclynn; and a special niece, Tina O’Toole; also, more extended family.