Charles and James, along with their siblings Robert and Muriel, were born in Cleveland, Ohio to Charles D. and Lydia Walker. James, the youngest, was born in 1922. After the death of their father, their mother moved the family to the home of her brother who lived on a farm near Muncie, Indiana. This turned out to be an advantageous move since their uncle’s farm was adjacent to the property of the President of Ball State University, Lemuel A. Pittenger, who was both a friend and neighbor of their uncle.

Both Lydia and her brother strongly encouraged the siblings to pursue higher education although they had to obtain menial jobs during their college years to pay tuition. With the assistance of President Pittenger, the siblings were accepted into Ball State. Ultimately, all four siblings graduated and achieved successful professional careers - three of them became educators and the fourth became an attorney.

Charles graduated from Ball State University and went on to become an attorney practicing in Indiana. James Walker graduated from Ball State University and then enlisted with the Tuskegee Airmen. After the war, James started his teaching career in Kansas before moving to Indianapolis where he spent many years teaching at Crispus Attucks High School and Emmerich Manual High School.

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