Walter James Burke was born on 20 October 1866 in New Iberia, Louisiana, the son of James Lee and Pamela Cannon Burke. He attended private schools in New Iberia, Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, and Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. On 4 February 1890, he married Bertha Perry, and they had ten children. He died 22 January 1941, and is buried at the St. Peter's Cemetery in New Iberia.

Burke was an attorney, politician, and educator. He served in the State Senate from 1912-1916 and was a delegate to the constitutional conventions of 1898, 1913 and 1921. As a state senator he sponsored several significant progressive pieces of legislation, including educational reform bills and the state's first Employer's Liability law. He was a long-time member of the State Board of Education. He was associated with many organizations: the New Iberia Central High School Association, New Iberia Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, and Literary Club.