Ellon Anne Walker was born December 30, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Elton Walker and Victoria (Johnson) Walker. She was the couple’s second of two daughters. Ellon was raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey and grew up in the Baptist Church where she sang in the choir.
She graduated from Atlantic City High School and at the age of 16 entered Howard Universit in Washington, DC. While at Howard, she met her husband of 19 years Dr. Leon “Lee” Emanuel Butler. They married in June 1960 and she put her education on hold to start a family. From her union with Lee, she would have a set of twins, Brian and Tracye followed by a second daughter Heather, 4 years later.
While their children were young, the couple settled in Buffalo, New York, where Ellon resumed her education. In 1973, Ellon would earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater and a Master of Arts in 1979 in American Studies, both from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo. Her pursuit of higher learning took her to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she completed all course work for a PhD in English Language and Literature at the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan.
Ellon began her professional career as a college professor, teaching literature, composition, and English at various colleges and universities in Michigan, New Jersey, and Maryland. She is a published author and also enjoyed teaching/tutoring young students that were home/hospital bound. She had many interests which included reading, playing the piano and cello, sewing, cooking, gardening, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) coaching, and looking after her grandchildren. The love of her grandchildren is what brought her to Maryland in 1997. She had a mild-mannered temperament and gentle disposition.
Ellon departed this earthly world on March 27, 2023, due to complications following a medical procedure. She is survived by her children: Brian Butler of Laurel, Maryland, Tracy Hernandez-Bynum (Darryn Bynum Sr) of Nanjemoy, Maryland, and Heather Butler Taylor (Billy) of St. Louis, Missouri; her grandchildren: Xariel and Micah Hernandez, Nicholas, Maya, and Kian Butler, Michael and Caleb Taylor, and Darryn Jr and Tatyana Bynum; and one great-grandson, Xariel Hernand, Jr.
She is also survived by her brothers: Jerry and Edward Walker; sisters: Billie Overton and Carol Bettis; brother-in-law James Ware; many nieces and nephews, (particularly close to her niece Sabrina Thomas); cousins: Rosemary Bell and Skip Outley Carwell; and many other relatives and close friends.
Ellon is predeceased by her parents Elton and Victoria Walker, her sister Gloria Goddard, brother Pierre Walker, ex son-in-law Robert Hernandez, and ex-husband Lee Butler.
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Saturday, April 15, 2023
1:00 - 1:30 pm (Eastern time)
Beall Funeral Home
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Starts at 1:30 pm (Eastern time)
Beall Funeral Home
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