Walter Ernest Walker Jr., 99, formerly of Cook, died on Saturday, June 20 at Trinity Care Center in Farmington, MN.

Walter was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 14, 1921 to Walter E. Walker and Ida (Richman) Walker.  Walter attended school in Philadelphia and graduated from Roxborough High School in 1939. After working as a draftsman for Phil-co Corporation for a year, Walter joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned to serve on the battleship U.S.S. Nevada and was at his battle station when it was sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Walter was reassigned to the cruiser U.S.S. Phoenix and later served on a sub-chaser (PCS 1382). Walter volunteered for submarine duty, passed the training, received his dolphins and was assigned to a brand new sub, the U.S.S. Sablefish.

After being discharged from the Navy in 1946, Walter hitchhiked from Florida to St. Paul, MN. to look up a Navy buddy who had a hunting cabin on the Rice river south of Cook.  Within a couple of weeks Walter met Lorraine Stordal on a Baptist young peoples' hayride. Walter and Lorraine were married on Aug. 21, 1948. The newlyweds moved to Pennsylvania where Walter worked as a plumbers' apprentice for six months. They returned and settled in the Leander community and Walter started a long career as a painter/decorator. Walter enjoyed being with family and friends, reading, sketching, gardening, and fishing and bike riding, which he continued into his nineties.

Walter was preceded in death by an infant brother Edmund, his parents Walter and Ida, his loving wife Lorraine, brothers Victor and Kenneth, sisters Ellen (Alcott) and Shirley (Verguldi) and son-in-law Brent Peddicord.

Walter is survived by daughters Ida (Larry) Clark, Norma Walker, and Iris (Don) Sardella, son Martin (Laurie) Walker, brother Donald (Joanne) Walker and sister Margaret Heilman, 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 2 at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Cook. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Military Honors will be accorded by the Navy Honor Guard. In lieu of any monetary donations, honor Walter by volunteering your time or talents to help and encourage one another.