John Adam Walker

John Walker was late for everything. If you knew John, you have definitely waited around on him. Tuesday morning, April 14, 2026, John kissed his wife Samantha and Ava and Maverick as they slept and left for work. No one knew he was leaving for Heaven. He didn't hit the snooze button an extra time, he didn't linger at home or do one more thing to stall time. He didn't get an extra red light, no roads were closed, no flat tire or extra traffic. He was at that intersection right at the time God knew he would be. Right on time. His son, Sawyer, has been waiting on him. After losing Sawyer at only three years old, the only way John could carry on was to lean hard on God and Psalm 139:16 which teaches us that God knows the number of our days and He always has a plan for us. Born June 30, 1982 at Morrow County Hospital to Jack and Janet (Gibson) Walker, the number of John's days was 43 years, 9 months and 14 days.

We have lost our superhero, our local legend, our advisor, our storyteller, our coordinator of fun and adventure, our comic relief, our Godly example. John didn't know a stranger, only friends he didn't know yet. A simple conversation with him could quickly turn into a lasting connection, and many who met him quickly became like family. When you were in a conversation with John, you and your needs were his focus. People, especially children, were just drawn to him. He was genuine, warm, gentle, purposeful, strong, patient and he just had a way of making people feel safe, secure and just better.

He was a fixer. John could fix just about anything and troubleshoot just about any problem. He spent most of his childhood taking things apart to see how they worked and most of the rest of his life breaking things and getting into predicaments. This made him a wealth of knowledge and know-how that others turned to often for guidance and help. He didn't always do things the way they were supposed to be done, he often had a better idea or an idea that would work. This was something that both impressed and annoyed his superiors at times.

He was a patriot. Following in the footsteps of his father, John joined the Air National Guard. John was a master sergeant in the 200th RED HORSE Squadron at Mansfield Lahm Air Force Base. He proudly served alongside his nephews, Noah Trainer and Garrett Harvey, where they learned to, "Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way". (It's John's obituary, it had to contain at least one cuss word.)

He was a man of God. He was not a preacher, but that didn't stop him from preaching to you or even officiating your wedding if you needed him to. He spoke up boldly for the Lord at any opportunity he could find. It was John's mission to make sure everyone knew about Jesus. You had to chuckle and overlook the cuss words in his Biblical messages. He spoke from the heart, a straight shooter, and didn't choose his words carefully, but he meant what he said. He and his wife, Samantha, just returned from a work mission trip to Mexico last Saturday.

He was a proud Morrow County guy. John loved his teachers and friends at Iberia and at Northmor where he graduated from in 2000. Although his teachers had a hard time getting a word in edgewise with him in the room, they couldn't help but love him for his ornery charm. His lifelong school friends were near and dear to his heart. He was active in 4-H and FFA and loved the fair. He enjoyed showing hogs and cattle the Morrow County Fair, Ohio State Fair, and a few other county fairs. He made many lifelong friends in the cattle barns. He loved sharing the show cattle passion with his daughter, Ava, and was looking forward to watching Maverick follow that path as well.

He was a worker. John had a strong work ethic and loved working outdoors, both things he learned while following his dad all around the farm. He built grain bins for Perkins, cut trees for Complete Clearing, milked cows at a big dairy in Wisconsin for a bit, he dabbled in construction, he was a surveyor for ODNR, but has spent most most of his worklife at ODOT on the road crew, the snow plow crew, as a mechanic and currently as a surveyor. He also had a saw shop business at the farm that he could not have run without the help of his chain saw loving nephew, Ethan Trainer.

He was a giver. Always one to offer a helping hand, he would give you the shirt off of his back and the tools out of his toolbox. Often helping others and undercharging them or not charging them at all. He would give you advice, whether you wanted it or not, and gave the very best hugs.

He was a husband, he was a father. After his first date with the girl from the farm next door, John was set on marrying her. On October 20, 2007, he married Samantha (Sautter) and they had three wonderful children together; Ava Jade, Sawyer Liam and Maverick Elam. His family was the most important thing on this Earth to him. He was so proud of them and he loved them and treasured them with his whole heart. Samantha, Ava and Maverick reside near both family's farms in Mt. Gilead, Ohio.

He was a family man. Family was vitally important to John and the whole extended family is a close knit crew. Rarely was there a Saturday night that he missed family pizza night at his mama's kitchen table at the family farm. He was the life of the party and pizza night just wasn't as much fun when he couldn't be there. He is dearly missed by his two sisters and their families: Kim & Scott Harvey, Miranda (Grant Farson), Kendra (Carson VanHoose), Garrett, and Holly & BJ Trainer, Chelsea (Josh Snell) with children Everett & Amelia, Noah, Ethan & Emily with son Dawson, Maya. He is missed by Samantha's parents and brothers and their families Ann Sautter & Dave Beers, Steven & Theresa Sautter, Alex (Tiffany) with sons Cade & Adler, Steven (Kelly) and son Dean. Aunts and Uncles Charlie & Elaine Walker, Bill & Ruth Creswell, Mary & Steve Louis, Jean & Joe Beck, Sharon Allen, Roger & Janice Smith and a whole tribe of close cousins and also many friends who weren't related by blood but were tight enough to call family. The love is deep.

He was greeted in Heaven by his son Sawyer, his grandparents Pappy (Gerald) & Betty Walker, Art & Doris Gibson, and his Uncle Larry Gibson.

Please honor his memory by spending time with those you love, appreciating the beauty of nature, working hard, stepping up, helping others, appreciating others, making people smile and laugh, praying, going to church and bringing others to the Lord. We were absolutely blessed to have him on this side of Heaven and blessed that we will, most certainly, see him again in Glory.

Friends may call on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, from 2:00 -7:00 PM at North Woodbury Alliance Church, 6385 OH-314, Mount Gilead, Ohio 43338. The funeral service will be held Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the North Woodbury Alliance Church at 10:30 AM with Pastor Doug Bryan officiating. Following the service, the burial will take place in the Sawyer's Little Orchard with full military honors.

Those wishing to make a memorial contribution are asked to consider the Mount Gilead Church of Christ, 322 Iberia Street, Mount Gilead, Ohio 43338.

Gompf Funeral Service of Cardington is honored to have been chosen to assist the Walker family. Condolences may be expressed to John's family at www.gompffh.com.