Theodore "Ted" M. Walker

At 92 years of age, Ted Walker entered in the Presence of His Savior, Jesus was reunited with his precious wife, Dorothy. His time on earth was well lived and filled with love, joy, loss, sadness, success and service. He was born in Eureka, KS on April 17, 1923 to Thomas and Florence Walker and passed away at Select Elderly Care Home in Bellevue, WA on July 26, 2015.

In 1935 the Walker family moved west and settled in Grandview, WA where Ted resided for 67 years of his life. He graduated from Grandview High School with the class of 1942. He ran track and was President of the FFA as well as President of his senior class.

Ted attended Washington State College for a short time and was involved in ROTC. Ted married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Idler on New Year's Eve, 1942. They were married 71 wonderful years. Their home was blessed with the births of their two children: daughter, Janet Walker Jones of Bellevue, WA and son, Jerry Walker of Lake Stevens, WA.

Ted farmed for a short time in Mabton, WA before moving back to Grandview where he was employed by agricultural plants around the area as a refrigeration specialist and electrical engineer providing well for his family. In 1962, Ted and Dorothy became owners of the Grandview Laundromat. They operated their laundry business until retirement in 1987.

Ted and Dorothy loved traveling by air, sea and in their motor home. They spent many happy years camping and fishing with family and friends. Ted could really spin a tale...fish stories of course. There was always lots of laughter and fun with him and his pranks. He had a great sense of humor and loved adventure. He night hunted frogs on local lakes and loved to ice skate on the canals, complete with a bonfire on edge to warm up cold hands. He took up downhill skiing at age 69, finally deciding he needed to "retire" the ski and roller blades before he broke a hip. There was nothing Ted enjoyed more than a good sporting event, especially when it involved his grandsons. He sat many hours in bleachers cheering the teams on.

The family faithfully attended the Grandview Nazarene Church. Ted served as a 5th-6th grade Sunday School teacher, helped build the new church building and in his later years use the church parking lot as his personal roller blading rink. He was a Godly man, leaving a legacy of friendship, faith and faithfulness behind. He was a very kind man, chopping wood to help a neighbor and offering a helpful hand to those in need. The last 12 years Ted lived in Bellevue. He and Dorothy moved there in 2003 to be near their extended family. They attended Westminster Chapel in Bellevue. Ted was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Mr. Walker is predeceased by his parents and brothers and his beloved wife Dorothy in 2014. He is survived by his daughter, Janet Jones (Bobby); his son, Jerry Walker (Holly); 13 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, one nephew, one niece and one sister-in-law; Lillian Walker of Yucaipa, CA.

A Celebration of Ted's life will be held at the Westminster Chapel, 13646 NE 24th St in Bellevue, WA on Saturday, August 15, 2015, beginning at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, the Walker Family Memorial Fund has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank to assist in the nursing education of a young, very special caregiver, Jaylyn.

Ted's family would like to extend their gratitude to Arlee Kay Volz, a longtime friend of the family for helping to write these beautiful words about Ted as well as Dorothy, when she passed in 2014.

Ted will be laid to rest at Sunset Hills Memorial Park under the direction of Sunset Funeral Home in Bellevue, WA. Please visit www.sunsethillsfuneralhome.com to leave your condolences on Ted's online guestbook.