Ross Weldon Walker, 78, of Beaumont, passed away on February 2, 2016 at his home. He was born August 9, 1937 in Fastrill, Texas, near Lufkin, to parents Ross and Temple Walker.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at Claybar Kelly-Watkins Funeral Home in Beaumont. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. A gathering of family and friends will take place from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM prior to the service at the funeral home.

Weldon grew up in Beaumont, where his father was a locomotive engineer at Southern Pacific Railroad and his mother worked at Texas Commerce Bank. After graduation from French High School in 1955, Weldon attended Lamar and then joined the U.S. Army. He was a helicopter mechanic instructor at Ft. Eustis, Virginia.

Three years later, upon his discharge, he returned to Beaumont and studied engineering at Lamar. In 1961, he began working at Dresser IDECO. He worked for IDECO and successor companies for 43 years. He was a structural engineer; his many responsibilities included traveling around the world troubleshooting and modifying oil drilling rigs. He has been to six continents and every oil producing country in the world, including Russia, China, Egypt, Nigeria, Trinidad and all the countries in South America.

He was granted three patents during the 1970s, all of which had to do with tunneling and boring machines. Weldon retired as vice-president of National Oilwell.

In his spare time, Weldon enjoyed being outdoors, water skiing and motorcycle riding with his family, especially in and around Sam Rayburn Lake.

Weldon is survived by his wife, Deanna Walker of Beaumont; their children Ben Walker of Topeka, Kansas, Tom Walker and wife Kim, of Beaumont and Lisa Walker of Beaumont; and their grandchildren Ashley Walker and Travis Walker. He is also survived by his daughter, Becky Ames and her husband, Rodney Ames, of Beaumont.

Weldon and his family appreciate the excellent care and service from Harbor Hospice.