William Kent Walker

William “Kent” Walker, affectionately known as “Bear,” born May 23, 1967, in Morristown, Tennessee, near the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, to the late Richard and Stella Walker. After graduating from Morristown Hamblen High School East, in 1985, he enlisted in the United States Army and arrived at Ft. McClellan in Anniston, Alabama. He attended Jacksonville State Community College and worked at Pollard Publishing, Kemp’s Office Center and Consolidated Publishing.

Kent discovered a love of community theater performing with the Anniston Community Theatre (ACT), where he won several “Annie Awards” and met his dear friend, Holly McEntee. Holly later introduced him to Madison and Kent often told the story of knowing he was “home” at first sight. He moved to Wisconsin in 2000 with his kitty Chalaka. They lived in Madison, then Mount Horeb, and later returned to Madison to his perfect little house.

His first job in the Madison area was at Lands’ End, where he worked as an associate systems admin and successfully championed a corporate change in the dress code allowing men to wear kilts. Once again, he found himself on the community stage, this time acting with Stage Q, where he met a fan who would become his best buddy, Walker MacBeath.

In 2008, Kent joined Walker at the UW Foundation as a development assistant. He took great pride in his roles with Lily’s Luau, the Signe Skott Cooper Teas, and a visit from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. While at the UW Foundation, Kent met his bold, fierce, and sometimes delightfully inappropriate partner-in-crime, Timeka Rumph. Their friendship brought equal parts, laughter and unforgettable memories.

Kent returned to Morristown in 2010 to assist his aging father. He earned his RN from Walter State Community College, School of Nursing and his BSN from King University in 2014. Following the death of his father, he returned to his little house in Madison and became a hospice nurse, a calling that allowed him to share his gift of comfort and calm with countless patients and families.

Kent’s creativity shone through his Etsy store, Kilted Bear Designs, LLC., and by sharing stories of his hijinks, which he referred to as “Kentastrophies,” both gave him great joy.

In recent years, Kent said goodbye to his cherished feline companions Mrs. Beasley and Oliver, as well as Mabel the guinea pig. He was a wonderful caretaker and loved them more than words can express.

Bear left us much too soon on August 3, 2026, at the age of 59. He is survived by his sister, Lea Ann Walker, of Knoxville, Tennessee, close friends Walker MacBeath, Timeka Rumph, Holly McEntee, Sue Janowitsch, Laura Strebe, and family in Tennessee.

You are invited to celebrate Kent’s life on Saturday, September 26, from 11:00am to 2:00pm at Warner Park Beach Shelter, 1101 Woodward Drive. Military Honors at 12:30pm.

For those wishing to make a gift in Kent’s memory, the family asks that donations be made to JR’s Pups-N-Stuff Rescue or your favorite local theatre.

Please share your favorite photos of and with Kent on social media using #kentbearmadison or on his Facebook page, Kent Bear Walker.