The Shadow
Mildred Persinger Walker
Mrs. Mildred Persinger Walker, age 92, of Covington, died Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the Woodlands Nursing Home and Rehab, Clifton Forge. She was preceded in death by her husband and love of her life, Charles W. Walker.
Mrs. Walker was born August 31, 1934 in Alleghany County, the daughter of the late Alvin Rock “Buck” Persinger and Dorothy Peters Persinger. She went to work for Industrial Rayon/Hercules as a secretary and worked there for more than 25 years until moving from the area. She continued in that career until her retirement in 2000.
She was a lifetime member of Virginia Preceptor Chi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. Those ladies were all like sisters and were the best of friends. They were always there for each other. The sisterhood they had was also carried on to their children and their grandchildren. She was also in a bridge club that met for more than 30 years. Before moving away from Covington, Millie was very active in numerous community organizations. She & her first husband, Jerry were very active and held office in the Covington Quarterback Club. Mildred was a majorette in high school and at the age of 89, she and several of her friends marched in the Covington High School Reunion. She and her friend, Dottie Gaylor were the original founders of the “Covington Highliters,” where she talked her son Jay, into playing the drums for them when marching in the parades. They even performed in the Richmond Christmas Parade.
Millie & her husband, Charlie, attended Annapolis Sailing School, which led to a very adventurous life of sailing from Maryland to Florida, to the many islands in Bermuda, the Atlantic Ocean, and up and down the Inland Waterway. They loved sailing together in their beloved “Puff” with their friends in the Chesapeake Bay area. During their retirement years they lived on the Rappahannock River, where they met Bob & Caroline. Millie & Caroline
instantly formed a very special bond & referred to each other as sisters. Every afternoon they would meet at the “social bench” looking out over the Rappahannock River and share a beer & glass of wine. After their husbands passed, the ladies still met everyday & when Millie moved
back to Covington, they would call each other every day, talk about life, and memories and have their beer and glass of wine.
Mrs. Walker is survived by a daughter, Jan Armontrout and husband, Charles of Covington; a daughter-in-law, Judy Phillips; three grandchildren, Lisa Warren Brown and husband, Billy, R.J. Warren and wife, Christy and Loveda Warren. In addition to her husband and her parents, Mrs. Walker was preceded in death by a son, Jerry “Jay” Phillips, Jr. and a beloved aunt who helped raise her, Flora “Doll” Persinger. Mrs. Walker was a member of Covington Baptist Church where she sang in the choir there when raising her children.
In her words, “They walked down the isle in 1976 to the tune of Love Story and they truly lived it for 38 years. She reached for his hand & it was always there.”
A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Thursday, September 24, 2026, from the chapel of Loving Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Warren officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Thursday morning from 11:00 A.M. until time of service at Loving Funeral Home.
The family suggests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the Alleghany Humane Society, 9313 Rich Patch Road, Covington, VA 24426.
Arrangements are being handled by Loving Funeral Home; to view Mrs. Walker’s memorial tribute page, please visit www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.
