William S. Walker of Moretown, Vermont, passed away on July 15, 2025. Born on October 16, 1953, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bill was the middle child of William J. Walker III and Sarah (Beaman) Walker. He attended the William Penn Charter School and St. Lawrence University, graduating with a degree in Anthropology. After graduating, Bill pursued his passion for cooking at several prestigious Philadelphia restaurants including the Philadelphia Cricket Club, Wildflowers, and The City Tavern.
Bill moved to Vermont in 1989 to continue his career as a professional chef at Olde Tymes Restaurant in Waitsfield, Vermont. He had an instinct for combining flavors in delicious ways and his menus and creativity are remembered fondly throughout the Mad River Valley. Later in life, Bill switched careers to work in IT for National Life and the state of Vermont.
His favorite place to be was on a boat on the water, fishing. For many years Bill owned a bass boat and participated in the annual Lake Champlain International Fishing Derby, placing in the top three several times. He also enjoyed surf and ocean fishing in Rhode Island with a great group of friends. He loved teaching his daughters to fish from an early age. Bill was also an award-winning homebrewer.
He is survived by his two daughters Ayla Walker and Emma Mitchell (and her husband Dan) and their mother, his former wife Ruth Ann Pattee; his sisters Anne Bowers (and her husband, Jerry) and Muffy Walker (and her husband, John Reed); two nieces and three nephews and their families; his former wife Nikki Matheson; and his beloved dog, Callie. In lieu of flowers his family asks that donations in Bill’s memory be made to the North Country Animal League, or a local animal shelter, to celebrate his great love of dogs. There is a memorial website where people can share memories and photos of Bill at https://everloved.com/life-of/william-walker-moretown-vt/ A celebration of Bill's life will be held at a future date in the Mad River Valley.
