William "Mark" Walker

On June 6, 2026 an extraordinary man came to the end of his journey with long term illness to meet Jesus.

William Mark Walker, 72 of Sherwood was born July 28, 1953 to William and Marie T. Walker in Little Rock. To tell Marks life story it would be a thick novel that is amazing, heart breaking and full of adventures. Some of those adventures include:

When Mark was 8 years old he got very sick and ended up in the hospital. While there he slept for two days. When he woke up, he said I want a cheeseburger. His dad rushed out and brought back several burgers, whatever it took to make him better.

In High School, he got the nick name Tiger that has stayed with him for the rest of his life. He played dodge ball in P.E. and he was never tagged because he was so quick so the coach started calling him Tiger. The man had license plate later in life with Tiger on it. Several times over the years we have gone somewhere and someone would walk by and say “Hey Tiger, how’s it going.”

In the early 1970’s, he won many drag races with a 1969 Comet Cyclone that he had the cam shaft aluminized for greater heat resistance. Which is now an industry standard.

When he was 22 or 23, he moved to Tulsa and went to work for Kilsby Roberts (now E.M. Jorgensen). He started as a janitor and worked his way up to a salesman. There he earned their first million dollar contract with McDonald Douglas. Kilsby decided to expand into Little Rock and put Mark in charge of finding the location. He worked there for about a year then he started Pipe & Tube Exchange in his bedroom with $300.00 in his pocket.

He changed the name to Pipe & Tube Supply Inc. that has been family owned and operated for 48 years. In 2001, he expanded his business by opening PTS Processing, a plate burning facility to meet the needs of the Steel Industry and it will celebrate its 25th anniversary in September of this year.

In 2002, life threw him a curve ball, he was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure. He received a kidney transplant donated by his niece in 2007. Even though he was sick, he still managed to enjoy life by deer hunting, fishing, time at the lake and meaningful vacations.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill & Marie Walker, Sister Karyn Walker-Averitt, Aunt Madge, Aunt Hazel, In-Laws Irvin and Betty Conley, four Brothers-In-Law, other family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Rosemary Walker, Son William Mark Walker II(Jessica), Daughter, Stephanie Walker, Granddaughter, Abigail Walker all of Sherwood, Nieces Kameron Swithin (Eric), Walker Qualman (Robert) and several other family members, numerous friends and employees.

Mark was an inspiration to everyone he told his story to, they were truly amazed that he handled it with such dignity, grace and strength.

We think about all of the times that God kept Mark alive thru illness, boat wrecks and etc.

Because there was someone else who needed to hear his story, and that God had people all across the United States praying for a man they had never met, but knew God had a purpose for his life.

We would like to thank all the Doctors, Nurses, Care-givers, Pastors and everyone else who helped and loved us on the journey to make Mark’s life as great as it was. 

Visitation is 5:00-7:00 PM, Friday, June 12, 2026 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home. Funeral is 10:00 AM, Saturday, June 13, 2026 at the funeral home with burial to follow at Edgewood Memorial Park.

Pallbearers include: Mark Zimmerman, Robert Qualman, Tom Bradley, Mark Harper, Marcus Pinegar, Randy Besancon and Ross Osburn. Honorary pallbearers are his staff at Pipe & Tube Supply, Inc. and PTS Processing.

Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR 72114. 501-758-1170.