Phillip Walker Obituary

Phillip J. Walker, M.D., 87, fell asleep in the Lord on February 6, 2026, at his home in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Walker was born in Palmerdale, AL on October 24, 1938. He is preceded in death by his parents, G.T. Walker, Jr. and Jean Miriam Card Walker, and siblings Alice Jean Walker, Gordon Thomas Walker, and David Richard Walker, Sr. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Sandra Thomas Walker, twin children Benjamin Thomas Walker and Chelsea Elizabeth Walker Pizzola (Brandon), son Merritt Richard Walker, and sister Mary Exa Crew (Steve).

Dr. Walker received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Virginia and holds a certificate in Orthodox Theology from St. Stephen's Course. He completed his residency at Vanderbilt University. He served as a physician in the Air Force and subsequently moved to Charlotte, NC, where he was a founding partner of Metrolina Nephrology Associates and practiced nephrology for decades. He served on the Ethics Committee at Carolinas Medical Center and on the Nutrition Committee at Mercy Hospital (both now Atrium Health). As he transitioned toward retirement, he worked part-time as a physician at a Military Entrance Processing Station.

Dr. Walker and his family converted to Orthodox Christianity in the late 1990s following his brother Fr. Gordon Walker's journey into the Orthodox priesthood. Dr. Walker and family attended Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and were founding members of St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church. At Holy Trinity, he sang in the choir, lectured on the history of Orthodoxy at the annual Greek Festival, and often read the epistle for Sunday Divine Liturgies.

Dr. Walker loved reading (including attending a beloved book club each Tuesday), bicycling, sailing, tennis, carpentry, traveling, and spending time with family, including dogs Toto, Sassy, and Sherlock.

The family offers special thanks to Dr. Walker's nephew, Tom Walker (Kibble); his physician, Dr. Al Hudson; the many esteemed colleagues who served with him in the medical profession over his 50-year career; and the doctors and nurses who treated him during multiple bouts with cancer and other illnesses. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.