Robert W. Walker

1920 - 2017

PETERBOROUGH – Robert W. Walker, 96, passed away August 10, 2017 in Peterborough, surrounded by his loving family after a brief illness. He was born on November 18, 1920 in Providence, Rhode Island, son of Charles Waterman and Miriam Whittaker Walker. He lived in Concord, New Hampshire for many years and was a graduate of Concord High, Mount Hermon School and Brown University.

He married Mary Louise Minde (Molly) of Summit, New Jersey on July 14, 1945.

During the Second World War, he participated in the government synthetic rubber program at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey. In 1946 he joined the pharmaceutical laboratories of Merck & Co. in Rahway, New Jersey as a research chemist and contributed toward the development of many human and animal health products. During his career at Merck, he specialized in infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry. He retired in 1984 as a senior research fellow in drug metabolism after 38 years with the company.

Mr. Walker lived in Cranford, New Jersey for 42 years and moved to Peterborough, New Hampshire to the Rivermead Life Care Community in 1996. He was an emeritis member of the American Chemical Society, a past president of the Echo Lake Naturalists Club in Westfield, New Jersey and enjoyed membership and participation in many nature oriented organizations, including the Nature Conservancy, The Raptor Trust, the NH and NJ Audubon Societies, the Appalachian Mountain Club, The Harris Center for Conservation Education, and Friends of the Wapack in New Hampshire.

Bob and his family vacationed in numerous national parks. His love for nature, birding, gardening, photography, hiking and classical music were a major part of his life. After retirement he and Molly became world travelers. He enjoyed displaying his photos and narrating presentations of their travels for numerous clubs and organizations.

Surviving family members include Molly, his beloved wife of 72 years; daughters Carol Mumford (Robert) of Farmington, Connecticut; Linda Walker (Ron Floyd) of Mitchellville, Maryland; a son, Charles Walker (Maureen) of Mendham, New Jersey; four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by sisters Emily L. Timson, Bertha Rosalyn Cornett, and Frances Miriam Owen.

Burial was in Pine Grove Cemetery in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Donations in Bob's name may be made to The Harris Center for Conservation Education, 83 Kings Hwy, Hancock, NH (harriscenter.org) or The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 232 East Ohio St. Suite 500, Chicago, IL (pulmonaryfibrosis.org)