A local man retires after four decades of service

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- After working through four generations and four decades, Campbell’s’ Foodland Market bids farewell to their most loyal employee.

Friday is Larry Walker’s last day. Walker is retiring working more than 40 years at the family owned grocer. Walker’s first started his career at Campbell’s back in 1973.

“It was a different time then,” Walker said. “I was nervous, but I grew to like it. I’ve been down here for 43 years now. When I first started, I was the dairy manager and I worked stock. We all had to do carry out. Now I’m just doing stock and carry out.”

Walker said the most rewarding part of the job for him is interacting with the customers. We spoke to Courtney Burns, who is a partner at Campbell’s about her experience with working with Walker.

“He’s very friendly,” Burns said. “We’re all like family so it’s just like having another family member here. Loyalty is very hard to find now. It is nice to have somebody like that and he will be missed. There’s a lot of customers that will miss him and his service. It’s sad but it’s exciting for him too, to be able to do something different.”

Walker said he has no plans yet for his retirement.