Stephanne Stone Walker

Stephanne Rae Walker

March 22, 1949 ~ February 20, 2026

It is with sadness that the family of Stephanne Stone Walker announces her passing at home on the 20th of February 2026 at the age of 76. Stephanne was born on March 22, 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri to Earl Stone and Gloria Huchens. She was proceeded in death by her parents.

She married Martin Walker, a United States Marine, on the 3rd of August 1968. She spearheaded 21 moves, almost single handily raising two children and six dogs; however, one dog did run away. Served in various capacities in the U.S. government and represented the Marine Corps at various postings. She started her first life as a sergeant's wife, partner, and advisor; always walking beside not behind her husband. She has worked for U.S. senators and representatives in Washington, DC as well as the Defense Intelligence Agency in Foreign lands. She also served on the Armed Forces Spouse Advisory Committee in Washington DC. Stephanne has been president of various wife's clubs throughout the Marine Corps; always putting the welfare of Marine families first. She served as the Leprosy liaison in Japan visiting leprosy colonies to assess their needs, for the U.S. and Japanese governments. Upon her retirement, she helped start and was a partner in a nano technology company. She has traveled to India and South Africa to advertise her company, While in Guana, Africa she was nearly sold to a tribal king for gold (blonds are very valuable in Africa).

In 1997 she moved to Columbia from the Ivory Coast, Africa; she served as president of Fortnightly, a women's organization for wives of University of Missouri faculty, worked as a member of the Assistance League of Mid-Missouri for 20 years, and taught English as a second language to Spanish emigrants. In 2005 she co-sponsored a scholarship for veterans and dependents of veterans desiring to attend the College of Engineering, University of Missouri, which to date, has enabled over 20 veterans and dependents to become engineers.

Stephanne is survived by her husband Martin "Marty" Walker, LTCol USMC, Ret., two children, Jeb Walker, a law enforcement officer for the state of Missouri, a retired Marine Corps Reservist and active Missouri National Guard member, and Windelin Rickard, a science teacher in Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania's Science Teacher of the Year for 2021, and Marine mother. Stephanne Walker has been married to Marty for 58 years; no words can do justice to the relationship that they enjoyed!

A "Celebration of Life" will be held on Friday the 13th of March 2026 from 1600-1800 (4:00 p.m.- 6:00p.m.), at 112 South Scott Blvd., Columbia, Missouri.