Norris Wayne Walkup, 92, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2014. Wayne was born on April 2, 1922 to Homer and Grace (Burdett) Walkup in Wolf Creek, WV, the oldest of four children.

After graduating from Alderson High School in West Virginia, he attended Grove City College in Pennsylvania, graduating in 1946.
Wayne was a Marine, having trained in California and New York for radio communications. While in the service, he met his wife, Virginia Miller at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. They were married on August 25, 1946 in Boonville, NY.

In 1946, Wayne began a career in the petrochemical industry at the Quaker State refinery in Emlenton, PA, moving to USI in Tuscola, IL and McCartney Manufacturing in Baxter Springs, KS. He was a pioneer in high-pressure technology for chemical processing and water jet cutting. His work took him to many foreign countries and provided many travel experiences. He is named on 12 patents for his work and was a fifty year Member of ASME.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Baxter Springs, KS where he served as a member of the session, Sunday School teacher and a member of the choir.

After retirement, he continued to consult in the oil and gas industry and enjoyed traveling to visit children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Wayne is survived by his wife Virginia; daughter Pamela (Charles) Wolfe, Winfield, KS; son Tracy (Karen) Walkup, Norcross, GA, brothers Lucian (Amy) Walkup and LG (Virginia) Walkup ; sister Hazel Montgomery; 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. A daughter, Donna (Lyle) Eastin and a son Brian Walkup preceded him in death.
Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice.

Graveside Services with military rites accorded will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2014 at the Mackville Cemetery, Atwood, IL, with Rev. Don Gerkin officiating. No Visitation will be held. Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 66 East US Highway 36, Atwood, IL is entrusted with the arrangements.

Online condolences may be shared via hilligossshraderfh.com