Despite his youth, Sam was married. He left his bride, Nell Victoria Hunter, whom he married on June 2, 1936, back in South Carolina. But not for long.

Sam had a passion for cars and made enough money repairing them that he was soon able to bring his wife to Philadelphia, where they enjoyed 72 years of togetherness.

Sam came from picking cotton on a farm in Anderson, S.C., to become a well-respected churchman, neighbor and devoted family man in Philadelphia.

He died on Thursday of an aneurism. He was 89 and lived in West Philadelphia.

Sam worked as a tractor-trailer driver for Edgecomb Steel Co., from which he retired in 1984. He also ran an auto-repair business out of his home for many years.

Besides his family, Sam had three other passions - Calvary Baptist Church, cars and fishing.

"He fished every chance he got," said his daughter, Maxine Timazee. He would take his children out in the ocean from Fortescue, N.J., in a small boat with an outboard motor.

"He would catch so many fish, he had to give some away to the neighbors," Maxine said.

It was probably not the safest place to be, out in the ocean in a small boat, but the kids weren't aware of the danger. "We didn't even have life jackets," Maxine said.

Sam joined Calvary Baptist Church on Easter Sunday 1965, and was ordained a deacon in 1968. He served as president of the Deacon Board for a time and was the kind of active church member who makes himself available for any chore that has to be done.

"He had strong beliefs and was a serious and peaceful man," his daughter said.

Sam's passion for cars led him to study auto mechanics at a local school. He was also proud of his own cars, his latest being a 1993 Lincoln Town Car with just 43,000 miles on the speedometer.

"That car was like one of his children," Maxine said. "Since we were grown up, he adopted that car."

Although Sam didn't put many miles on the Lincoln, for many years he made an annual trip back home to South Carolina to visit friends and family.

Sam was block captain of the 300 block of N. Edgewood Street, and was known as the "ambassador of Edgewood Street."

"In good weather, he could always be found sitting on his front porch keeping an eye on his territory," his daughter said. "Everyone who came past the house spoke to him and stopped to carry on a conversation.

"He always had time for anyone who passed by. He was't really a talker, and always told his family that if you want to learn, you have to listen. You can't talk and listen at the same time, and when you listen, be sure you understand what is being said."

Since his death, puzzled neighbors have been coming by, and, seeing the empty porch, would ask, "Where's Mr. Walker?"

Besides his daughter, he is survived by two sons, Samuel Walker Jr. and David Walker; 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. tomorrow at Calvary Baptist Church, 6122 Haverford Ave. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in White Chapel Gardens Memorial Park, Feasterville. *