DALLAS — Ernest Walker was known to many people in the DFW community for his civil and non-profit work. His passing on Tuesday has reverberated throughout the community.
Walker was well-known as a champion for the underdog.
"I wish we had more people like Ernest," said Pastor Dennis Webb of Bear Creek Community Church.
Walker suffered a medical episode on Tuesday while driving home. He was on the phone with his wife of 28 years, Debbie.
"He had a change in his voice. The only thing I heard was the telephone drop," said Debbie.
Walker was a disabled veteran, chaplain, activist, volunteer with the Patriot Guard and the American Black Cross. But most notably, he was husband and father of 8 children.
"It is really difficult for me because I lost half of my fire," said Debbie.
Ernest was coming home after feeding the homeless in Irving. He spent his last three hours helping people.
"That's the way I want to go," said Bryan Byrnes, who joined him on Tuesday to hand out meals to the homeless in Irving. "By the time we left hugging right there...it was just like brothers."
Byrnes, also a motorcyclist, says all future memorial rides for the Patriot Guard will be in his honor. As many who knew Ernest know, he never really saw a stranger. He met Pastor Dennis Webb three weeks ago, who asked for 50 blankets for the homeless.
"The next day an 18 wheeler shows up with four or five hundred blankets," said the pastor.
But nobody knew Ernest like Debbie did. She married someone as service-minded as she was. Debbie tells WFAA even in loss, she is at peace.
"He went out on top of the world," Debbie said.
"It was better to have known him three weeks than not to have known him at all," said Webb.
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