Eugene Melvin "Gene" Walker

Walker, Eugene "Gene" Melvin
a WWII and Korean War veteran, died May 8, 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Bernice Loletta (Lape). Gene was born in Kearney, NB November 4, 1918 and graduated from Lexington High School, Lexington, NB in June 1937. He joined the United States Navy and after initial training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, IL was assigned to the battleship USS New Mexico on Christmas Day. His second assignment was as a radioman at Wailuke, HI. Bernice, Gene's high school sweetheart, sailed to Hawaii, arriving February 12, 1941 and they were married that evening. Bernice returned to Lexington, NB in April 1942 following
the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the entry of the United States into WWII. Gene served in the South Pacific and in the United States during WWII. He would subsequently serve a total of 22 years with assignments aboard the battle cruiser USS Guam, the aircraft carrier USS Midway, and the destroyer USS Rich. During the Korean War Gene served aboard the USS Magoffin an attack transport. From 1956 to 1958 Chief Warrant Officer Walker was an instructor at the Venezuela Military Academy. He retired from the US Navy as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 in 1959 and settled in Scottsdale, AZ where he initially worked for Motorola. Gene was an agent for New York Life Insurance Company and later became the office manager of the Scottsdale office. Gene is a member of Thistle Masonic Lodge # 61 F. A. & A.M., a York Rite Mason and a member El Zaribah Shrine. Gene is survived by his sister Eileen Gerhard of Fort Collins, CO; brother-in-law Lowell Lape of Plattsmouth, NB; sister-in-law Edith Walker of Louisville, NB; along with two nieces and two nephews. Gene and Bernice have two sons, Stephen of Scottsdale, AZ and Stanley who resides with his wife Peggy in Crawfordsville, IN. Additionally, Gene and Bernice have two married grandchildren. Their grandson Bart and his wife, Jan, live in Due West, SC and their granddaughter Karyn, who is married to Jeff Kamphausen, live Aurora, IL. There are five great grandchildren: Kate and Cal Walker and Maggie, Anna and Ellie Kamphausen. Following the desires of Gene, he will be cremated and his ashes spread in the Pacific Ocean by the US Navy. A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 13, 2011 at 10:00 am in the Sunrise Home Facility, 11002 North 66th St, Scottsdale, AZ. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may
be made to Shriners International c/o El Zaribah Shrine, 552 N. 40th St., Phoenix, AZ 85008. Arrangements entrusted to Messinger Indian School Mortuary, Scottsdale, AZ.