Paul Edward Walker, age 95 of Tulsa passed peacefully from this life to his eternal home on August 4, 2025, surrounded by loving family and friends. Visitation will be at the Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Service of Sand Springs on Sunday August 10 from 2 to 6 pm. A service celebrating Paul's life will be held on Wednesday August 13 at 1 pm at Forest Park Christian Church 9102 S. Mingo Road Tulsa Ok. He will be laid to rest beside his wife Lenore in Osage Gardens Cemetery in Skiatook, Oklahoma on August 11.

Paul was born on December 28, 1929, in what is now Santa Fe, Texas to Alton Parker Walker Sr. and Alpha Walker. He had one older sister, Ruby who died at age 5 of pneumonia in 1930. He had two older brothers, Alton Parker Jr. and Cecil, and one younger brother Donald. Paul's mother Alpha had 21 brothers and sisters (full, step, and half) who all lived nearby, so Paul grew up in a loving family surrounded by caring and watchful relatives. Years later, when the large family held a reunion every summer in Santa Fe, Paul was the photographer, lovingly photographing the many family groups.

Paul graduated from Santa Fe High School and was a member of the Arcadia Christian Church. He was one of several young men from that congregation that felt called to be a minister. Paul received a degree from Johnson Bible College (now Johnson University) in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1952. He married Barbara Madison and began his life as a minister in the Christian Church. They had three daughters, Becca, Cindy, and Mary. Although the marriage ended, Paul and Barbara were married for almost 25 years. Paul married Lenore Flinchum and joyfully extended his family to include Lenore's son DeLon and daughter Jeannie.

Paul served churches in Alabama, Texas, and Oklahoma. During his years as a minister, he was responsible for starting two churches. Throughout his life, Paul wanted to bring people together. After moving to Tulsa, one of the churches he started was a multi-racial church in north Tulsa, a big change from the small Texas town of his youth.

In 1966 Paul was employed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services as a social worker and began a dual ministry with the church and working with the disadvantaged poor. He developed several programs to educate and train people for work and was made the director of The DHS Education, Training and Employment Program from 1980 until he retired in 1993. His work in education and work force training for the underprivileged changed the way Oklahoma approached social work, moving the state towards a more empowering approach to helping those in need. This program became a model for other states. Paul's work led him and Lenore to move from Tulsa to Oklahoma City. When he retired, they moved back to Tulsa to be closer to family.

Paul's service to the community went far beyond the normal boundaries of his job and lasted throughout much of his life. He served as Chaplain for the Oklahoma State Senate and the Oklahoma State House of Representatives. He chaired a key committee in the Tulsa Area Manpower Planning Council and was recognized by Mayor Jim Inhofe for his contributions to the program. As Paul's work grew, so did his scope of influence. He eventually worked with other state and national institutions, developing training and educational programs that served the disadvantaged in states across the U.S. His work garnered numerous commendations. These included one from Governor George Nigh for the national recognition that Oklahoma received in conjunction with work programs at both the state and national levels. He also received the National Public Award from the Department of Health and Human Services for his implementation of a work and training program that served as a national model. He and his team were successful in placing tens of thousands of individuals into full-time employment by providing them education, training, and work values orientation.

Paul was a lifelong reader and writer. In retirement Paul and Lenore enjoyed their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and several greatly loved dogs. They loved photography and genealogy and loved to travel. They traveled across the USA from visits to Lenore's Aunt in California to visits with Cindy's family in Virginia and Louisiana, with vacations in Disney World and Europe. They had a winter vacation home in Santa Fe where Paul served as chairman of the Board of Directors for the Santa Fe Historical Foundation. They also visited places their ancestors had lived and often met distant relatives that shared their interest in genealogy. Paul lovingly cared for his wife Lenore until her passing in 2015.

Paul is survived by his children: Becca and Jack Coonfield; Cindy and Keith Davidson; Mary Lenard; DeLon and Karen Flinchum; and Jeannie and Randall Greg Ridenour. Grandchildren Candy Coonfield and Joey Christiansen; Andrew Carroll and PiChuan Chang; Anna Lynn Carroll; Tia Moran; Delonna and Mark Schutt; Whitney and James Bennett; Savannah and Josh Comer; and Dylan Davidson. There are numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews that also have their own special stories and memories of their time with him.

Paul lived a full life of faith, service, and courage. During his 95 years on earth, Paul's love, faith, and guidance could always be counted on. He will be sorely missed by all his family and friends.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, his three brothers, and his loving wife Lenore. Mike Lenard and Barbara Madison also preceded Paul in death.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you consider donating to the John 3:16 Mission or the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.