Howard L. "Fuzzy" Walker

Howard L. “Fuzzy” Walker  -- of Flushing, Michigan, passed away November 3, 2023. He was a beloved Husband, Father, “Gampy”, Brother, Uncle…A Christian Man and Veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, Retiree of AC Sparkplug/Delphi Automotive Systems, always an entertainer, singer, actor, comedian, downhill skier, history buff and tolerator of his wife’s many pets over 57 years of marriage together. Fuzzy made his last pot of coffee on the morning of November 3, 2023. He spent the day reminiscing of the many loved ones and friends who had enriched his life throughout his 81 years on this earth and ironically passed away peacefully and unexpectedly in his own bed that evening.
Fuzzy graduated from Danville, Illinois high school in 1960, and then joined the U.S. Coast Guard, spending five years active duty and twenty years in the reserves. Fuzzy met the love of his life, “the Fair Elizabeth” Rivers, while stationed in Savannah, Georgia. After being honorably discharged from active duty, he attended Illinois State University, where he obtained a Bachelors degree in Education. He was offered a position with General Motors upon graduation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but a logistical happenstance within the company brought him to Flint Michigan instead. He has established his life with his family and many friends here ever since those early days of 1974. He retired out of AC Delphi and the Coast Guard, but returned to work as a contractor for Delphi Automotive.  
Fuzzy was a faithful attendee of Flint First Church of the Nazarene for decades, where he enjoyed singing in the choir and directing various children’s choral programs. His most recent church home has been at Faith Missionary Church in Flint, where he continued to be engaged in the choir and music ministries the church offered. Always the eternal optimist, he strove to embrace the goodness of every day while anticipating the promise and hope for tomorrow. He was a benevolent soul who possessed a charitable heart and was an anonymous benefactor to several organizations that he valued. He was skilled in the art of knowing when to give sage advice, and when to simply listen. He always had a lively story or joke for every occasion.
Although he may have been challenged vertically (and fashionably some would say), a truer friend one could not find. He had a personality much larger than his stature in a door frame, but he touched so many lives in so many ways. He had an engaging persona and viewed strangers as friends he had not yet met. He enjoyed tending to his gardens out at his barn / hobby farm with the camaraderie of his close friends, nourishing their wit, and singing with his “Brother’s in Song” via the Flint Male Chorus, church choirs, and performing on community theatre stages in various roles within the Flint Community Players and Clio Cast and Crew.
Fuzzy and Betty invested in a family cabin in 1998 on Elbow Lake where many happy memories were made with family and friends through the years. He found great joy and pride in the various interactions and accomplishments of his children and grandchildren, attending the many sports, boy scout and other functions his grandchildren had going these past 20 years.
His presence will be forever cherished and greatly missed by his loving wife Elizabeth “Betty”; daughter Holly (Steve) Herr; son Christian; brother Randall (Cindy) Walker; grandsons Mason, Brennen, Nolan and Reagan; brothers-in-law Don Morey, Kenneth Klinkert; sisters-in-law Judith Lyle and Deborah Stair; several nieces and nephews; extended family / son Luis (Jessica) Colmenares, daughter Liliana Colmenares (Ramses Roca), grandsons Jace, Jackson, Jaden and Jensen Colmenares, granddaughter Juliana Roca; great friend of the family Dale “Hoppy” Hopkins, and many other loving friends. Besides his parents Myron and Mary (Rounsvell), Fuzzy was predeceased by his sister Elsie Morey.
Fuzzy was an original character, and there will never be another like him. As he would often say upon his departure, “Bye, Bye, and Buy Bonds!”
In lieu of flowers, please consider any donation to The Flint Male Chorus, Bill Gifford, (810) 348-9211.

Visitation will be held at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek on Friday, November 10, 2023, 2:00 - 8:00 pm. His Funeral will be held at Faith Missionary Church, 1327 N. Elms Road, Flint, MI at 11:00 am Saturday November 11.  A full meal and fellowship will follow the funeral at the church. Burial will be on Monday, November 13 at 11:00 am, at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, Holly, MI.
Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.