Paul J. Walker

Father Paul J. Walker 75, of McConnelsville passed away at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at Genesis Hospital in Zanesville. He was born June 20, 1945 in Columbus the son of the late Herbert H. Walker and Mary Elizabeth Triplitt Walker. As a youth, Father Walker attended McConnelsville Grade School and Malta-McConnelsville High School in McConnelsville, Ohio. He studied for the priesthood for the diocese of Steubenville at St.John Vianney Seminary in Bloomingdale, Ohio. He obtained degrees from The College of Steubenville (Now Franciscan University of Steubenville); The Catholic University of America in Washington, D,C; and the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana. In his home church, St. James Parish, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1972, by Bishop John King Mussio. Father Walker’s first assignment was an instructor at St. John Central High School in Bellaire, Ohio while in residence at St. Mary Catholic Church in St. Clairsville, Ohio. He then served as an assistant at St. Mary Parish in Marietta, Ohio; was an instructor at St. John Vianney Seminary, Franciscan University of Steubenville, and the University of Dayton in Ohio. He taught religion at St. Mary Central School in St. Clairsville; St. Benedict School in Cambridge, and at St. Agnes Central School in Mingo Junction. He was a faculty member of the Pontifical College Josephine in Columbus, Ohio. He was a parochial vicar at St. Mary in St. Clairsville; St. Pius the Tenth in Steubenville,; Christ the King University Parish in Athens; St. Agnes in Mingo Junction; and St. Benedict in Cambridge. Beginning in 1994, Father Walker was assigned as pastor to his home parish, St. James in McConnelsville. He continued to minister there until his retirement from active parish ministry in 2015. Father Walker also served on the Steubenville diocesan liturgical commission, was director of the diocesan Office of Worship, worked with the diocesan adult education programs and was on staff of the diocese’s Total Ministry Program. In retirement from active parish ministry, Father Walker continued to reside in McConnelsville, wrote a regular column for The Steubenville Register, which he began to pen earlier, and celebrated Masses regularly at St. James Parish. He is survived by his sister, Carol Griffin of Zanesville; and his niece, Rebecca Hartley of Zanesville. Mass of Christian Burial  will be celebrated at 11:00a.m. Monday, November 30, 2020 at St. James Catholic Church in McConnelsville  with Bishop Jeffrey Monforton as celebrant. Calling hours will be held two hours prior the mass at the church. He will be laid to rest in McConnelsville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. James Catholic Church. Miler-Huck Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.

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