David Derence Walk passed away Sept. 3, 2026. His passing came after a sudden diagnosis and a brief, courageous battle with cancer, and though the illness was short, the life that preceded it was long, full, and lived with extraordinary heart.
He was born David Gale Tobin on Feb. 8, 1952, in Pottsville, PA, to Mary Alice “Dolly” (Killian) Ahrensfield and Walter John Walk. As a child he was adopted by Sergeant First Class David Derence and Pauline Gail “Mitzi” (Walk) Derence and given the name David Gale Derence. As an adult, he chose the name David Derence Walk, a name that carried with it both of the families who had shaped him.
David moved to Greensboro, NC, during his junior year of high school. He went on to attend Oklahoma Baptist University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business and served as secretary of the Young Democrats Club. David became a songwriter, collaborating with many other musicians and producing volumes of original work. Two of his songs found audiences far beyond the campus: he co-wrote “Chill,” which was presented by Arsenio Hall and Arnold Schwarzenegger in an effort to help calm the unrest during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and he co-wrote the royalty-earning “Eretz Israel.”
After two early marriages, David married the love of his life, Crystal Faye Watson, on May 13, 1982 in Las Vegas and set off on a honeymoon that lasted four months and covered forty-two states, camping and staying with friends across the country and writing music as they went. David served as Shawnee’s Sister Cities chairperson and led a delegation of students on a cultural exchange to Nikaho, Japan. He also devoted many hours to helping bring about the Japanese Peace Garden in Shawnee, built as a token of the camaraderie between Shawnee and its sister city.
David served his country in the United States Army and retired at the rank of Master Sergeant, with his final duty assignment at Headquarters, State Area Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard. As an Oklahoma Army National Guard recruiter, he created and presented an innovative and deeply patriotic multimedia program featuring historical flag replicas, which he brought to high schools all across the state. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal; the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal (third Award), the National Defense Service Medal (second Award), the Humanitarian Service Medal (second Award), the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3, and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge.
Following his retirement from the Army, David and Crystal owned and operated a family videography and photography business for five years, during which time he also wrote a column for the Countywide & Sun newspaper called “Perspective on the Arts.” He then accepted a position as Media Manager at Walla Walla Community College in Washington State, where he received multiple awards for his work, as well as serving as President of NW MET.
Later in life, every song David wrote was a love song for his wife. He produced an eleven-song album of these love songs and left instructions that his family listen to it joyfully at his celebration of life.
David is survived by his wife of 44 years, Crystal Faye (Watson) Walk, of the home; his children: Derence Walter Dwaine Walk and his wife, Lily Gonzales Puyenti de Walk, Crystal Gale Walk, Mary Darling (Walk) Mcinturff and her husband, Steven Mcinturff; and Carl Dwaine Watson Walk; and his grandchildren: Dominick Hill, Gavin Watson, Olivia Faye Hill, and Rand Derence Hill. He is also survived by his brother, Keiff Walk, and his wife, Cindy, of PA; his sister, Lauren (Derence) Milligan, and her husband, Mike, of NC; his brother, Sam Derence, of AZ, an actor who appeared in The Dark Knight; his brothers-in-law, Rocky Watson of Earlsboro, OK, and Ricky Watson and his wife, Tina, of Seminole, OK; his sister-in-law, DeCarla (Watson) Wallgren of Maud, OK; and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.
He was preceded in death by all his parents, SFC David Derence, Pauline Gail “Mitzi” (Walk) Derence, Walter John Walk, Mary Alice “Dolly” (Killian) Ahrensfield, father-in-law Carl Dwaine Watson, and mother-in-law Gayle Alene (Brann) Watson; his loyal canine companion, Brownie; his brother-in-law, Monty Wallgren; his sisterin- law, Lisa (Conley) Watson; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of life with military honors will take place on Sept. 27, 2026 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Project Heart Senior Nutrition Center (307 W. Main Street, Maud, OK) Friends and friends are welcome.
In accordance with his wishes, his final resting place will span the locations closest to his heart. He will be interred at the Hopewell (Bethel) Cemetery on Bethel Rd, Bethel Acres, OK to wait for his wife and laid to rest with his beloved Pap Pap in Schuylkill Haven, PA. His children will keep part of him close, and his journey will be completed with a scattering in the Pacific Ocean on his final cruise planned with his wife.
Arrangements are under the direction of Legacy Funeral Home (5106 N Harrison, Shawnee, OK).
