Joan Anna Walkling

Joan Anna Walkling

February 22, 1936 — November 24, 2025

A loving wife and mother, Joan Anna Walkling passed away quietly in hospice November 24, 2025. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, three children, six grandchildren and five nephews and nieces. Joan was born in Queens, New York to Edward and Elsie Dehler, naturalized citizens who came to America through Ellis Island.

In high school she met Robert Edward Walkling Jr., a fellow student at Newtown High School. He joined the Air force while she was still in school, and following his return from Libya, Honorably Discharged, they married in 1954. They honeymooned in California at Pike’s Peak, getting there via the legendary Route 66. They then spent his last year in the Air Force at Travis AFB in Fairfield, California. They moved to Florida in 1955 where they first had a house in Broadview Park, then moving shortly thereafter to a home that was being built for them in Plantation.

Joan was a loving wife and mother, raising their three children while Bob worked at Southern Bell. When the kids were young, Joan worked at McDonalds on the night shift so she could care for the kids (and any number of pets) during the day, then at Motorola in Plantation until the kids were all out of school, retiring after 20 years.

Later on, she joined Bob in researching the Walkling family genealogy. For more than a decade they immersed themselves in it, traveling all over the United States and Europe together, spending extended periods in England, Germany and Hungary among other places, for both pleasure and research.

While raising the children, Joan was involved in girl scouts, cub scouts and the children's’ schools, and ran the roost for the Walkling family, basically keeping everyone fed and healthy. In her spare time she enjoyed reading, cooking, and even did stints as a delivery person for the Broward Times and as an Avon Lady for a number of years. She had her adventurous streak too, once taking a flight with a stunt pilot and never missing a chance to ride the rollercoasters at Disney World. In the 1970s and 1980s, she and Bob travelled often in their Jayco camper to many places, but mostly to the Florida Keys or their property in Lady Lake.

Quick with her sarcastic look at the realism of life, she blended her wisdom with humor, but ruled with firm hand when necessary. But everything she did, she did with love. Those who had the privilege of her association knew of her sunny disposition and kindhearted soul. She always had a positive outlook and even into her last decade as dementia slowly took her, she would always greet you with a smile, right to the end. She is sorely missed.