MARY WALKER
1918-2017
Mary Genevieve Hoch Walker of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 29, 2017 at the age of 99. Mary was born in Fort Scott, Kansas on June 19, 1918. Her family settled in Oklahoma City and Mary was one of eight children of Assalyn and William Henry Hoch. She attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, graduating with a BS in Chemistry in 1940 and a MS in Chemistry in 1941. After graduation in 1941, she was hired by Phillips Petroleum to work on a War Department project to develop synthetic rubber. Her knowledge of organic chemistry combined with proficiency in German allowed her to provide support for this crucial project during World War II. Mary continued her work in research and development at Phillips Petroleum through the war.
She married Vincent John Walker on October 23, 1943. Vince, an engineer, met Mary through work on the synthetic rubber project. After the war, Mary and Vince moved to Texas in 1946, where Vince worked in petro-chemical engineering and construction business. They settled in Bellaire, Texas in 1952. Mary taught at Holy Ghost School in Bellaire, and obtained a teaching certificate at Dominican College in Houston, Texas. She was subsequently hired by Dominican College as a professor of education to direct the student teacher program. Mary was a professor at Dominican College until 1974.
Mary was preceded in death by Vincent Walker, her husband of 57 years, her parents Assalyn and William Henry Hoch, as well as her sister Betty Hoch Jones, her brothers, Harry Hoch, George Hoch, Francis “Bud” Hoch, Jim Hoch, and Albert Hoch. She is survived by her three children, William Vincent Walker, Robert F. Walker and his wife, Mary, and Teresa Walker St. John; three grandchildren, John Vincent St. John, Christine Leclerc, and Angela Cline; and nine great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Tom Hoch and his wife, Joann, and sister-in-law, Francie Hoch.
Mary was a member of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Houston for 65 years. She and her husband, Vince, contributed to all aspects of parish services. She and Vince were also active in the Houston Rose Society, and Mary was a Consulting Rosarian for the National Rose Garden in Shreveport, Louisiana.
The funeral service will be held on July 7, 2017 at 10:00 AM at Holy Ghost Catholic Church at 6921 Chetwood, Houston, TX near the intersection of Bellaire Blvd and Chimney Rock Road. Burial will follow at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider memorial donations in the name of Mary Hoch Walker to the Houston Rose Society, c/o Baxter Williams, 2502 Leprechaun, Houston, TX 77017.