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Ronald Walker Obituary
Sun City - Ronald P. Walker of Sun City, AZ recently residing at Brookdale East Arbor in Mesa passed away August 26, 2020, at the age of 91. Ron was born in Bellville, OH to parents Paul R. and Leora Garber Walker. He was raised with siblings Ivan, Larry and Alice on the family farm. After graduating from Bellville High School, he served in the Army during the Korean War, then moved to San Diego where he tagged fish for Scripps Institute and retired from the San Diego City Fire Department as a Captain. He married Barbara Walker in 1962, becoming stepfather to Diane, Judy, Evan, Eric and Karen Peterson. Three years later, their son, Brian, was born. Ron loved camping, fishing, hiking (especially in the desert), long bike rides and playing cards. Ron was known for his deep love of nature, dogs, reading, ice cream, and his homemade jerky. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. He is survived by his sister, son, 2 grandchildren, 5 stepchildren, 8 step-grandchildren and his former wife. Ron's ashes will be scattered upon the desert he loved so dearly. The family hopes those who knew Ron will memorialize him in their own way.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ronald Walker
Timothy J Wilcox
September 23, 2022
Mr. Walker was a significant influence on me as a young boy. He included me and my brother Joe in all the adventures he took his own son Brian on. Hiking Mount Laguna, fishing San Diego bay, and just being there for a couple of kids whos naval father wasn't always available. Ron rode his bike to woke regularly, no matter what part of San Diego he was stationed. I commute to this day through his inspiration and in his memory. He made excellent home made ice cream. Gave me my first beer (Coors banquet can). He was a great man in my book! he also had some unique vehicles, an old white Saab coupe and a red rear engine Renault. Campers, boats, motorcycle!! great man for a boy to have around. Cheers to you Ron Walker!
Karen and Brad Conger
March 11, 2022
He will always be in our hearts. We have so many loving and fun memories with him. We all have another angel looking after us. XOXOXO
Kenny Pearson
January 17, 2021
I worked with Cpt. Walker at station 8 Goldfinch And Washington in San Diego. I was new on the job and he was the Veteran. He was very calm and easy going. A good teacher, and set a good example to be like him. I lived fairly close to him in Serra Mesa. I am thankful I had him in my life. Rest In Peace. Kenny Pearson. Laughlin Nevada
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was a wanderer. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be. I miss you Grandpa.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was a wanderer. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be. I miss you Grandpa.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. He loved to camp. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was so grateful to see him. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. He loved to camp. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was so grateful to see him. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. He loved to camp. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was so grateful to see him. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. He loved to camp. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was so grateful to see him. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. I was just this kid blessed with an extra grandpa others didn't have. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. He loved to camp. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was so grateful to see him. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. I was just this kid blessed with an extra grandpa others didn't have. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. He loved to camp and when he would go on one of his adventures he would stop by where we lived. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. We got to try on all the fire gear and sit in the trucks. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories. Another one of my vivid memories is each time we went out to see him and my grandma he always gave us a shark tooth. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was so grateful to see him. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. I was just this kid blessed with an extra grandpa others didn't have. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. He loved to camp and when he would go on one of his adventures he would stop by where we lived. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. We got to try on all the fire gear and sit in the trucks. One I replicated with my own son when he got close to the age I was. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories. I remember Grandpa's garage which was a wonderland of treasures and cool stuff. Another one of my vivid memories is each time we went out to see him and my grandma he always gave us a shark tooth. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was so grateful to see him. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. I was just this kid blessed with an extra grandpa others didn't have. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. He loved to camp and when he would go on one of his adventures he would stop by where we lived. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. We got to try on all the fire gear and sit in the trucks. One I replicated with my own son when he got close to the age I was. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories. I remember Grandpa's garage which was a wonderland of treasures and cool stuff. Another one of my vivid memories is each time we went out to see him and my grandma he always gave us a shark tooth. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was in the moment so grateful to see someone who for me was always larger than life. My Grandpa the adventurer. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. I was just this kid blessed with an extra grandpa others didn't have. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. He loved to camp and when he would go on one of his adventures he would stop by where we lived. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. We got to try on all the fire gear and sit in the trucks. One I replicated with my own son when he got close to the age I was. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories. I remember Grandpa's garage which was a wonderland of treasures and cool stuff. Another one of my vivid memories is each time we went out to see him and my grandma he always gave us a shark tooth. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was in the moment so grateful to see someone who for me was always larger than life. My Grandpa the adventurer. I miss him and have missed him. So now missing him is more poignant because I cannot say I'll get out there to see him again soon. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. I was just this kid blessed with an extra grandpa others didn't have. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. He loved to camp and when he would go on one of his adventures he would stop by where we lived. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. We got to try on all the fire gear and sit in the trucks. One I replicated with my own son when he got close to the age I was. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories. I remember Grandpa's garage which was a wonderland of treasures and cool stuff. Another one of my vivid memories is each time we went out to see him and my grandma he always gave us a shark tooth. I wish I still had those shark teeth. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was in the moment so grateful to see someone who for me was always larger than life. My Grandpa the adventurer. I miss him and have missed him. So now missing him is more poignant because I cannot say I'll get out there to see him again soon. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. I was just this kid blessed with an extra grandpa others didn't have. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. We didn't live close to Grandpa. I believe we were kind of out of the way but he would visit Kansas or Missouri when out this direction and stay in his camper. Grandpa became synonymous with Golden Retrievers because of his dog Leo and later True. To this day when I see one I think of him. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. We got to try on all the fire gear and sit in the trucks. One I replicated with my own son when he got close to the age I was. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories because he had so many, and the way he told them with such enthusiasm. I remember Grandpa's garage which was a wonderland of treasures and cool stuff. Living by the ocean he had little containers of shark's teeth. Another one of my vivid memories is each time we went out to see him and my grandma he always gave us a shark tooth. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was in the moment so grateful to see someone who for me was always larger than life. My Grandpa the adventurer. I miss him and have missed him. So now missing him is more poignant because I cannot say I'll get out there to see him again soon. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. I was just this kid blessed with an extra grandpa others didn't have. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. We didn't live close to Grandpa. I believe we were kind of out of the way but he would visit Kansas or Missouri when out this direction and stay in his camper. Grandpa became synonymous with Golden Retrievers because of his dog Leo and later True. To this day when I see one I think of him. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. We got to try on all the fire gear and sit in the trucks. One I replicated with my own son when he got close to the age I was. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories because he had so many, and the way he told them with such enthusiasm. I remember Grandpa's garage which was a wonderland of treasures and cool stuff. Living by the ocean he had little containers of shark's teeth. Another one of my vivid memories is each time we went out to see him and my grandma he always gave us a shark tooth. As children you just never think there is a time when your beloved Grandparents leave you. I wish I still had those shark teeth. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was in the moment so grateful to see someone who for me was always larger than life. My Grandpa the adventurer. I miss him and have missed him. So now missing him is more poignant because I cannot say I'll get out there to see him again soon. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. I was just this kid blessed with an extra grandpa others didn't have. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. We didn't live close to Grandpa. I believe we were kind of out of the way but he would visit Kansas or Missouri when out this direction and stay in his camper. Grandpa became synonymous with Golden Retrievers because of his dog Leo and later True. To this day when I see one I think of him. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. We got to try on all the fire gear and sit in the trucks. One I replicated with my own son when he got close to the age I was. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories because he had so many, and the way he told them with such enthusiasm and knowledge I never tired of hearing them. I remember Grandpa's garage which was a wonderland of treasures and cool stuff. Living by the ocean he had little containers of shark's teeth. Another one of my vivid memories is each time we went out to see him and my grandma he always gave us a shark tooth. As children you just never think there is a time when your beloved Grandparents leave you. I wish I still had those shark teeth. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was in the moment so grateful to see someone who for me was always larger than life. My Grandpa the adventurer. I miss him and have missed him. So now missing him is more poignant because I cannot say I'll get out there to see him again soon. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. I was just this kid blessed with an extra grandpa others didn't have. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. We didn't live close to Grandpa. I believe we were kind of out of the way but he would visit Kansas or Missouri when out this direction and stay in his camper. Grandpa became synonymous with Golden Retrievers because of his dog Leo and later True. To this day when I see one I think of him. I think of how Grandpa told us he loved to hit golf balls out in the desert and Leo would go after them no matter whether Grandpa tried to stop him or not. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. We got to try on all the fire gear and sit in the trucks. One I replicated with my own son when he got close to the age I was. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories because he had so many, and the way he told them with such enthusiasm and knowledge I never tired of hearing them. I remember Grandpa's garage which was a wonderland of treasures and cool stuff. Living by the ocean he had little containers of shark's teeth. Another one of my vivid memories is each time we went out to see him and my grandma he always gave us a shark tooth. As children you just never think there is a time when your beloved Grandparents leave you. I wish I still had those shark teeth. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was in the moment so grateful to see someone who for me was always larger than life. My Grandpa the adventurer. I miss him and have missed him. So now missing him is more poignant because I cannot say I'll get out there to see him again soon. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Tiffany Sample
October 16, 2020
My grandpa was one of sweetest and kindest men to me. This is particularly important because he didn't have to be. I was his step grandchild but you would not be able tell if you knew it. In fact I didn't know it for a very long time. I was just this kid blessed with an extra grandpa others didn't have. Grandpa Walker was a wanderer. He loved to camp and when he would go on one of his adventures he would stop by where we lived. We didn't live close to Grandpa. I believe we were kind of out of the way but he would visit Kansas or Missouri when out this direction and stay in his camper. Grandpa became synonymous with Golden Retrievers because of his dog Leo and later True. To this day when I see one I think of him. I think of how Grandpa told us he loved to hit golf balls out in the desert and Leo would go after them no matter whether Grandpa tried to stop him or not. My favorite pictures are of me and my brother visiting him at the fire station. We got to try on all the fire gear and sit in the trucks. One I replicated with my own son when he got close to the age I was. Firefighting was in his blood and it stayed there even as dementia took a lot of other things from him. I loved his stories because he had so many, and the way he told them with such enthusiasm and knowledge I never tired of hearing them. I remember Grandpa's garage which was a wonderland of treasures and cool stuff. Living by the ocean he had little containers of shark's teeth. Another one of my vivid memories is each time we went out to see him and my grandma he always gave us a shark tooth. As children you just never think there is a time when your beloved Grandparents leave you. I wish I still had those shark teeth. I wish when I saw him last I had taken pictures. I didn't know it would be my last time. I was in the moment so grateful to see someone who for me was always larger than life. My Grandpa the adventurer. I miss him and have missed him. So now missing him is more poignant because I cannot say I'll get out there to see him again soon. I carry him in my heart grateful he was a part of who I am and still of who I'm yet to be.
Brian Walker
September 28, 2020
We miss you Dad. We think of you often but particularly when we're observing nature in the beautiful Sonoran Desert you loved so much. Love, Brian
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