Linda Arlene Walker

Linda was born and raised in the Spokane WA area. She graduated from Central Valley High School. During her high school years, she played the clarinet in the marching band as well as being a majorette.

After high school she attended Spokane Community College, taking classes in dental hygiene, then worked as a dental hygienist in the Spokane Valley. She married her high school sweetheart, Donald Walker in 1964, at which time they moved to Seattle WA where Linda again worked as a dental hygienist.

After accompanying Don, in the Navy, to Guam in the 60’s, the Navy moved them to San Diego where their daughter, Shawna, was born. After Don’s initial enlistment they moved back to Seattle where Linda worked over 30 years at a large hospital as an Admissions Coordinator, working in all hospital departments, including ER. During the remaining years before Don retired from the Navy Linda was able to travel with him. After Linda retired she continued to volunteer at ECM Hospital in Florence AL for over 11 years.

They had the good fortune to travel to Ireland, where she kissed the Blarney Stone. And when in London she was overjoyed when Queen Elizabeth II waved at her directly as the queen entered her car outside parliament.

Linda loved traveling by convertible, and they were blessed to have seen much of this country over the past 59 years.

Linda and Don retired in 2007. Having never before been to the state of Alabama, they truly believed God had shown them the way to The Shoals. Linda was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church of Muscle Shoals.

Linda loved music all her life, and Elvis was her favorite. She had every Elvis album; Don had taken her to one of his concerts in Seattle; they had Blue Hawaii played at their wedding. And Linda loved to play games. She was an expert at Trivial Pursuit, so much so that her dear friends, Paul and Irene, in Seattle, referred to her as “the Trivial Pursuit Queen”.

Linda loved hot air balloons and had taken two trips in them. And while on a recent road trip through the SW they attended the Albuquerque hot air balloon festival, seeing over 500 hot air balloons ascending as the sunrise shown over the Sandia Mountains was truly inspiring for her.

Linda loved their yard and flowers, and especially her Southern magnolia. She spent many hours on their patio, enjoying the birds, flowers, and her morning cup of coffee. Linda brought joy and light to all she touched. She will be missed greatly by many friends and family.

Linda is survived by her husband, Don; one daughter, Shawna (Mark) Boomgaard and one granddaughter, Riley Boomgaard, of Clarkston, MI; one brother (Susan) Larry Collier of Lynden WA, along with cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Dorothy Collier of Spokane WA.

No service is intended at this time. A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date.