Rita Walker

Rita Bacon Walker was born on November 11, 1940, and passed away peacefully on October 1, 2025 from heart trouble in Mesa, Arizona. Born in Boise, Idaho, she graduated from Nampa High School, Nampa, Idaho. Being the middle child with an older brother and younger sister, she was the one who learned to get along with everybody. She was a second mother to her sister and a wonderful dance partner to her older brother. She attended Brigham Young University graduating in Elementary Education and spent nearly 25 years in the classrooms of Utah, Oregon and Arizona. During 1964-5, Rita took a break from teaching and obtained her Master's Degree from the University of Oregon in Speech Pathology but ultimately went back into the classroom to teach. She loved to sew all kinds of clothes from formal attire to winter coats, and construct quilts, cook tasty food, and organize anything that was out of order. For many years she sang in a sextet and church choir. She married Gene Henderson and had one child but later divorced and married Val Davis Walker on February 14th, 1976. With a blended family of five, the Walkers moved to Colorado where she enjoyed the seasons and nature. The family took up four wheeling and skiing – and she loved them both. In Colorado she became an insurance specialist for several doctors and enjoyed the work. She and Val filled a full time mission for 18 months at the Mission Home in Denver, Colorado. They fully enjoyed their service. After many great years of raising a family, Val and Rita retired to Arizona and loved to visit quilt shows, Hamm radio retreats, Indian ruins and other sites. Those who predeceased her were her parents,Russell C. and Uvonna Royle Bacon and her husband, Val Davis Walker, who passed away on May 7, 2020. She is survived by her children Stephanie Mary Walker Ford (Wes, deceased), Rita Jo Walker Stewart ( Edwin "Tres"), her adopted children, Katrina Michelle Walker Mandel (Ray), Brian Val Walker (Michelle,) and Lisa Monique Walker Murdock. Also living are 15 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her older brother Roger Lee Bacon (Christine Wright) and her younger sister Bette Bacon Anderson (Gordon). Burial will be private at Mountain View Funeral Home in Mesa, Arizona.