WALKER, Margaret (Age 96) 

Margaret Walker, daughter of George and Irene Helmer, was born on 
February 8, 1913 in Boulder Colorado and passed away peacefully 
at home on September 3, 2009. During the depression she majored 
in music and voice at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and 
assisted her mother in the operation of a boarding home. Her 
first phone number was #84. At the age of 22 she went by train to 
Tuscon, Arizona to wed the handsome Lt. Leonard R. Walker from 
Craig, Colorado. Their journey in the U. S. Army Air Corps and U. 
S. Air Force continued for 26 years as they lived in Wyoming, 
California, Louisiana, Guam, Colorado, and Japan. Margaret was 
the ultimate hostess and was known for her Chinese dinners, 
Indian curries and Caesar Salad. After her husband's retirement 
the adventurous couple spent three months traveling by ship 
around the world and subsequently lived in San Diego for 38 
years. She is proceeded in death by her husband of 63 years and 
survived by her three children; Joann Ritchie (Harold) of Spokane 
Valley; Lenore Walsh (Ray) of Fairfax, Virginia; and Len Walker 
of Deep Bay, Vancouver Island, BC; ten grandchildren and 13 
great-grandchildren. Mrs. Walker moved to Spokane Valley in 1999 
where she came to be a well loved member of the senior community. 
She attended Saint Mary's Catholic Church. There will be a 
memorial gathering for her at Courtland Place (1309 N. Evergreen 
Road) on Wednesday September 9th at 1 pm. Margaret will also be 
remembered with a ceremony in San Diego as she is interred with 
her late husband at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery over 
looking the Pacific Ocean. In the spirit of giving that Margaret 
shared with everyone, it is asked that you do a charitable deed 
in her memory, be it a gift of time, money or a meal to the less 
fortunate. Donations could also be made to Hospice of Spokane. 
Mom: Thanks for the memories. You will live on as an example of 
Christian living and you will be missed. 

Published in Spokesman-Review from September 6 to September 7, 
2009