My dear friend, Sylvester "Bill" Walker passed away today at the Pine Haven Nursing Home in Philmont, New York. Bill was 93 years young.

 

Sylvester was a past Town Supervisor of Canaan, a past Canaan Fire Commmissioner, a past President and Chief of the Canaan Fire Company and held other offices more than I can remember. He was a true town servant doing for others.

 

The Canaan Town Hall is dedicated to him. The addition to the rear of the Canaan Fire Station is dedicated, "The Walker Wing". Bill even has a street in Canaan named after him!

 

He served as a volunteer in the Canaan Protective Fire Company for 76 years. He joined the company on February 4, 1931. Until recently he attended every meeting.  

 

So long dear friend. God has truly blessed you. He has also blessed me for letting me be your friend. 

 

Until we meet again.....

 

R.E.L.   

 

 

 

Sylvester (Bill) E. Walker 93 a lifelong resident of Canaan died Thursday at Pine Haven Nursing Home in Philmont, NY.

 

Mr Walker was born June 14, 1914 in Canaan and truly lived his entire life in Canaan, the last 80 plus years in the same house on County Route 5. He is known locally as the Guru of Canaan.

 

He graduated from Chatham High School class of 1930 and from Albany Business College in 1932. Following his college graduation he worked for Edna St. Vincent Millay as her secretary for several years, then was manager/printer at a large Valatie printing firm before opening his own business, Walkerprint of Canaan which he sold in 1990. From 1966 to 1979 Mr. Walker was Executive Director of the State Supervisors and County Legislators Association(a lobbying group for local government). He was elected Canaan Town Supervisor in 1954 and served until 1973. During his reign, Canaan became the first town in Columbia County to establish zoning. He fought to get a stop and go traffic light installed at the interscection of County Route 5 and State Route 295 after five fatalities. He was instrumental with the erecting of the Veterans monument at County Route 5 and State Route 295. He co-chaired the Columbia/Greene County committee to establish Columbia-Greene Community College. He was chairman of the Civil Defense Committee which brought about the firematic two-way radio system in Columbia County. He was also instrumental in getting County Route 5 extended into Red Rock.

 

Bill married the former Sally L. (Wild) from Valatie in 1939. They had been married 62 years at the time of her death in 2001.

 

Mr. Walker has been a member of the Canaan Protective Fire Company for 76 years and is the senior Past President of the Columbia County Volunteer Firefighters Association. Until his recent illness, Bill attended all Canaan town board meetings and fire company meetings. He is Past President and longtime trustee of the Canaan Cemetery Association.

 

The new town hall was dedicated to him in 1998 and the road leading to the town hall was renamed Walker Lane in his honor in May of 2007.

 

Mr. Walker was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in New Lebanon.

 

Mr. Walker is survived by two sons, David W. Walker of Wellesley Hills, MA. and Richard A. Walker of Rhienbeck, NY. They would like to recognize Judith Wear(their cousin) as Bill's daughter, the love and care that she gave her uncle Bill over the years has been commendable. Mr. Walker was predeceased by his brother, Eugene Walker. He is survived also by seven grandchildren.

 

Funeral services will be held Friday December 7th at 11:00 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church in New Lebanon. Interment will be in the Canaan Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday afternoon(12/6) 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Wenk Funeral Home in Chatham.

 

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to the Canaan Protective Fire Company, Canaan, NY 12029.