Penny Walker

March 10, 1971 - April 1, 2020

Penny Nichols Walker, age 49, of Sparta, NC passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. She was born March 10, 1971 in Alleghany County to Willard Franklin and Joan Elizabeth Mabe Nichols. She was preceded in death by her mother, Joan Nichols; maternal grandparents, Jim and Rose Mabe; paternal grandparents, Clay and Lorraine Nichols; father-in-law, Jimmy Walker. Penny worked from 1992-2007 at the Alleghany County Schools Central Office for 5 years, and at Sparta Elementary School as SIMS Coordinator for 10 years. From 2007-2011 she worked at New River Mental HealthCare, and then from 2011-2014 she was a Financial Aid Assistant at Appalachian State University. From 2014 until her passing, she was the Director of Child Nutrition for the Alleghany County School System. She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Brad Walker of the home; one daughter, Meredith Walker of Sparta; one brother, Scott Nichols and fiancé Karen Blevins of Sparta; one sister, Heather Smith and husband Travis of Advance; mother-in-law, Joyce Walker of Ennice; two brothers-in-law, Jeff and Greg; one sister-in-law, Christine; special friends, Blake and Barbara Rector, Gary and Susan Murphy, Robin and Jimmy Bugielski; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins also survive. A private funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 4, 2020 in the chapel of Grandview Memorial Funeral Home with Elder David Kamoda, Jr. and Pastor Mark Wagg officiating. Interment will follow in Antioch Cemetery in the Stratford community. There will be a viewing for the public held on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. The family will not be at the funeral home during this time due to the current limitations, but will receive friends at the home of Meredith Walker, 675 Hendrix Road, Sparta, NC 28675. Flowers are appreciated, or memorials may be made to Antioch Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Tom Atwood, 1952 US Hwy 221 S, Sparta, NC 28675. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff of Alleghany County Schools, Forsyth Medical Center ICU nursing staff, and to Billy and Susan Nilo. Grandview Memorial Funeral Home is proudly serving the Walker family and if you wish, online condolences may be submitted to the family at www.grandviewfuneralhome.com.