Mr. Thomas Drummond Cropper Walker was a son of the Eastern Shore, born in 1957 by the sea and raised on her shores by his parents, William and Martha Shinn Walker.
Tom’s early days were comprised of school, which he considered a nuisance, and hunting and fishing with his brother, Wade, and Martha and Bill, which he found a necessity. His early teens found him in the summer at Bayford nearby Hooksie’s Store, where he found an appreciation for beauty, a thick skin, and socialization.
Destined to have adventure, as an adult he explored much of the world, from the intimate to the grand. He witnessed sunrises on the Shore’s seaside bays and sunsets over the Chesapeake and California, stars everywhere. Not unlike many watermen, he dodged lightning and rogue waves.
Tom passionately consumed nature, big and small. The big included surfing, clamming, scuba diving, fishing, boating, water skiing, snowboarding, the houseboat, and hunting, while the small was family, friends, get-togethers, conversations, embraces, and reflection.
His was a fierce affection, but it was not terribly sentimental or necessarily gentle; however, he was generous with his friends. Tom was grateful for those he let into his life and those who let him into theirs. He loved using the term a “good egg” to describe those, in his estimation, who cleared the bar of trust, craft, and fun.
He chafed under the authority of school but studied topics to which his nature steered him. He studied weather and enjoyed attempting to predict it, eyed the sea and learned to ride her waves, spied the marshes, flats, and tides and found the Golden Grounds of Little Machipongo were prime for growing clams.
He learned maritime customs and gained commercial captaincy. He served the Commonwealth as a member of our State Water Control Board. He mastered the physics of guns, bows, rods, reels, and Fishing Attraction Devices. And he earned life’s most important gift, that of immediate family — Ellen, Kobe, and Hayes. He treasured his extended family of Wade, Jayanne, Revel, Molly, Sayer, Ethan, Thatcher, Kenny, Ashley, and Kade.
Good jokes, pranks, and laughter were essential. Fine wine was an enthusiasm and making Manhattans a specialty. The party got started when he arrived and usually ended late. There were different parties — surfing, fishing, deer and duck hunting, holidays, and birthdays. Tom and his family did them all together and reveled in them. Tom enjoyed bringing that celebratory food — clams — to his friends. In fact, over the years J.C. Walker Brothers has fed millions.
Tom built a home welcome to all in Garza, Costa Rica, where he created another “Tom’s World.” He appreciated what the ocean brought to his boat, the Pato Viejo. He understood the wonder of friends and made new ones whenever the opportunity arose.
Tom’s leaving us by way of an unexpected and untimely death would have grieved him, for he was unable to say farewell or thank all who had helped him grow into the man he became. His was a life well-lived, and he experienced pretty much everything — the good, the bad, the weaknesses and strengths of our humanity. A view of his life in his words would be, “Not slack, full-on!”
“Let our sadness morph into an appreciation of our having shared this earth as family and friends as we are gifted with memories of grand times together.” His passing has been called unfair, but life is not fair, it is just life. “So, hold fast your loved ones, we are all under siege by the teeth of time and the tides of fate.”
There will be a celebration of life held at Hungars Church, 10107 Bayside Road, Machipongo at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 19. Following the service, there will be a reception held at Ingleside Farm, 2199 Morley’s Wharf Road, Exmore. Donations in Tom’s memory may be sent to The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Ms. Alex Rich, P.O. Box 158, Nassawadox, VA 23412.
