Willard B. Walker

CANAAN -- Willard "Bill" B. Walker, 82, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away on May 23, 2009, at Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan with his loving family by his side.

He was born in Boston on July 29, 1926, the son of the late William H.C. and Helen F. (Brewer) Walker, and was raised in Hingham, Mass.

Willard was a very accomplished man, who was never boastful. He was a very educated man; he attended and graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., class of 1944; received a bachelor's degree English literature from Harvard University in 1950; attended the University of Arizona and received his master's in anthropology in 1953, and continued his education at Cornell University where he received his Ph.D. in general linguistics and minored in cultural anthropology, Slavic linguistics, in 1964. Willard also served in the American Field Service in 1945 during World War II which was attached to the British Eighth Army, which later entitled him to be a U.S. veteran.

Willard married C. Pearline (Large) Walker on Oct. 18, 1952, in Tucson, Ariz. They moved to Maine in 1953 and bought a farm in Canaan now known as Battle Ridge Tree Farm; they stayed until 1959 and then moved so he could attend Cornell University. He and his family continued to spend summers at the farm in Canaan.

Willard became a professor in 1960 and began his life's teaching career at Cornell University, and then proceeded to teach at Wesleyan University, Colby College and Bacone College. He retired from his teaching career in 1990 at Wesleyan University; there he served the positions of professor, acting chair and chair for the Department of Anthropology and the Linguistics Program.

Willard was a member of many professional societies; they included American Society for Ethnohistory, Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas, and the Southern Anthropology Society. He was also a member of the Canaan Grange No. 239 for more than 50 years.

He worked at various field researches from 1952 to 1971 and countless writings from 1965 until his passing; these writings were published in the United States as well as Germany, and his writings were mainly on the Indian culture and language. He worked with various Indian tribes throughout his lifetime.

Willard enjoyed his tree farm in Canaan which he had for more than 50 years; in 2004 he and his son Christopher were awarded "Outstand-ing Tree Farm" by the state of Maine.

His passions in life were his tree farm and anthropology.

In his spare time he enjoyed traveling extensively with his wife, working on the tree farm teaching, researching, playing games with his granddaughters, being with his friends, talking with people and playing with his dogs.

Willard is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 56 years, C. Pearline "Perch" Walker of Canaan; his two sons, Christopher "Tad" Walker and his wife, Karen, of Canaan and Andrew "Skeet" Walker of Connecticut; his two granddaughters, Sarah and Victoria Walker; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and a very special friend, James Sarbough of Connecticut.

He was predeceased by his sister, Frances Walker and granddaughter Kathryn Brewer Walker.

Willard will be fondly remembered as a kind and generous man who will always be loved.

At the family's request there will be no visiting hours. A private burial will be held at the Walker Cemetery in Canaan. A service of remembrance and celebration of life will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6, at the Canaan Grange Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in Willard's memory to the Canaan Public Library Building Fund, P.O. Box 280, Canaan, ME 04924 or to the Somerset Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 453, Skowhegan, ME 04976.

Arrangements are under the care of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home 183 Madison Avenue Skowhegan, ME 04976; (207) 474-3357.