Raymond B. Walker, 82, of Dayton, passed away Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, at Life Care Center of Rhea County. He was born April 25, 1935, in Spring City to the late Thomas Franklin and Lillie Mae Durham Walker.

Raymond was a Tennessee House member of the 100, 101, 102 and 103rd General Assemblies from 1996- 2004. He represented the 25th District: Rhea, Cumberland and Bledsoe counties, was State Representative of the 25th District in the 1977 Constitutional Convention, member of House Commerce Committee, Industrial Impact of Commerce, Finance, Ways and Means and TennCare Oversight Committee. While serving as State Representative Raymond was instrumental in getting the Lantana Road widening project in Crossville started.

Throughout the past eight years, he helped in securing numerous grants for industries in Rhea and Cumberland Counties and was instrumental in helping with the completion of the four lanes of Highway 27 and Blythe’s and Washington bridges over the Tennessee River and was instrumental in the grant to complete the road into the Industrial Park in Spring City between Highway 27 and Highway 68. The road was named Raymond Walker Blvd. He was also instrumental in securing the location of the Southeast Tennessee Correctional Facility.

Raymond was a graduate of the Spring City High School class of 1955. He was a dairy farmer and worked as a Farm Bureau agent for 41 years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Dayton.

He was a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Speaking and Human Relations program, was Dayton’s Young Man of the Year, University of Tennessee William and Mary Hale “Family of the Year,” recipient of the State 4-H Alumni Recognition Award, recipient of Tennessee Primary Care Association Recognition Award and recipient of Southeast Development Legislator of the Year Award in 2004.