Ralph Walker

06/26/1924 - 01/20/2011

WALKER, Ralph "Ray"
(Age 86)

Passed away on January 20, 2011 in Spokane, WA. Ray was born on June 26, 1924 in Kansas City, Kansas to James and Esther (Payton) Walker. Ray grew up in the Kansas City metro area and attended college for his under graduate studies at Kansas State University before moving onto his graduate studies at the University of Kansas. He got his BA degree in Civil Engineering. Ray went into the United States Army and served our Country during WWII. In 1945 he married Anna Louise Montgomery in 1945. Ray designed the Broadway Bridge over the Missouri River in the mid 1950s. The Bridge opened for traffic on September 9, 1956 on US route 169. In 1965 Ray took a job as a Civil Engineer working on the I-90 corridor through N. Idaho and moved his family to Osborne, ID. After a short time they then moved to Spokane. He worked as a bridge engineer for the City of Spokane Rd. Department until his retirement in 1996. He then continued as a consultant. Ray was a very talented individual, singing in church choirs, playing guitar and banjo and sang for many years in the Pages of Harmony Barbershop Chorus both in Kansas City and continuing on in Spokane. He was also known for his skills at paint by number. Ray attended Spokane Valley Baptist Church for several years before he became a member of the Opportunity Christian Church. He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and VFW Post 1435. Ray is survived by his daughters, Amy (Patrick) Sullivan, Spokane, WA, Margaret Ann Walker, Lynwood, WA; grandchildren, Sgt. Daniel Ross Hutchens and Carrie Kathleen Hutchens. He is also survived by a sister, Mary Alice (Frank) Hursh, Merrian, Kansas; niece, Janie Wright; nephews, Lynn (Michelle) Hursh, and Ken (Theresa) Hursh all of the Kansas City Metro area. Ray was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Anna Louise Walker in 2007. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, March 13, 2011 at Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene, 15515 East 20th Ave. Spokane, WA. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 140 South Arthur Street St. # 610, Spokane, WA.