Dorothy Heard Walker moved into eternity on Feb. 11, 2017. Born in Macon, Ga. On Sept. 23, 1921, "Dot" moved with her family to Miami, Fl. where she grew up. Dot married her high school sweetheart "Joe" at the outbreak of World War II in 1942 . At the war's end, the couple returned to Miami to complete their war-truncated education. Joe finished law school and Dot received her Master's degree in English from Barry University. She also became a lay member of THE DOMINICAN ORDER of Nuns of the Catholic Church.
Dot and Joe adopted six children over the early years of their marriage. They also bought a farm in Little Switzerland, N.C. where they spent summers. Dot loved the gardening and animals and all the adventures kids can get into when they live in the woods. In 1975, Joe and family transferred to Orlando to open a branch of AmeriFirst Saving Bank in the famous round building downtown, which was tore down by the city in 2015.
Pursuing her love of the Roman Catholic Church, Dot became a member of the FELLOWSHIP OF CATHOLIC SCHOLARS. Dot was employed as DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION at St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon, N. C. Ever studying, Dot was admitted to the MARIAN CATECHIST APOSTOLATE by the Servant of God, Father John A. Harding, S. J. This Vatican-certified group of teachers of Catholic doctrine was formed at the request of Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, to teach a course written for Blessed Teresa of Calcutta's Sisters.
In 1991, the Walkers opened THE CATHOLIC STUDY CENTER in Longwood. There they loaned and sold Catholic publications to the public. Dot continued teaching Father Harden's basic course in doctrine. Her students became her "spiritual children" and she developed great friendships with them over the years.
Upon Joe's death in 1996, (a month after their 54th wedding anniversary), Dot closed the STUDY CENTER to launch a series of broadcasts on radio station WAJL in which she continued teaching the Fr. Harden course as THE CATHOLIC STUDY CENTER OF THE AIR.
Dot's love of the Catholic Faith was a priority in her life. The propagation of the faith was a life long ministry. She also love to propagate seeds in her recycled containers. She would get so much pleasure getting seeds to grow and bloom. She spent much of her spare time on her hands & knees in her men's overalls and straw hat. She created gold and white gardens at her beautiful home in the Springs honoring Pope John Paul II's colors. Her students delighted in bringing her plants and listening to her stories of the wildlife in her backyard.
Dot is survived by her three sons, Jody and his wife Sharon of Orlando, Chris and his wife Karen, of Boone, N. C., Peter of Orlando, daughters, Maria Teresa of Arden, N. C. and Martha Royall of Edmund, Oklahoma. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 5 great grand children!