Donna Marie Walker

Donna attended Pikeside School in the 70’s and was active in the Special Olympics. She loved family reunions in the park, cookouts, and holidays. She would always offer to get drinks for friends and family for a “tip”. These events meant time swimming in her sister Judy’s pool and watergate salad brought by her lifelong friend Clara Hess.

Those who didn’t know Donna only saw that she was mentally challenged and had epilepsy. Donna would never be a wife or mother, she was always first in line to hold the newest family member. She loved to play and laugh with them, giving them the greatest gift she could, her love. She would color pictures for her nephew Christian, anxiously waiting for his arrival from school. Donna wasn’t able to read but she loved bible study like her mother, and riding the church bus on Sunday to Shenandoah Bible Baptist Church. She not only knew who Jesus was but accepted him as her Savior and loved to get baptized as many times as possible growing up.

On Fridays she would earn money by washing dishes, taking out the trash, and collecting the mail. Her biggest passion in life was her love for Elvis Presley, a love shared with her Aunt Bobby. Her favorite song was “Blue Hawaii”. She liked having her own money and learned at an early age how to earn it by picking berries for our neighbor, Chris Cook. She loved having her picture taken and always asked for pictures of her family and friends. The photos connected her loved ones together and made us into the family that we are. To know Donna was to know what a blessing life was. She taught her family love, kindness, and how to find joy in the simple things, giving her loved ones the strength to cherish each moment of each day.

Donna was preceded in death by her father, Donald Lee Walker; paternal grandparents, John H and Ella Mae Wilson Walker; step-grandmother, Civie Walker; maternal grandparents, Charles Lee and Anna Triggs; sister-in-law, Ann Dietrich; nephew, Ethan; and several other aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She is survived by her mother, Peggy Ann Walker; brothers: Roger, John, Douglas, and Donald Walker; sisters: Peggy Diane, Tina Walker, and Judy James Shawyer; and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will be received at Rosedale Funeral Home on Thursday, January 25, 2024 from 11am until the time of the funeral service at 1pm. Interment will follow in Rosedale Cemetery.

Condolences can be sent to www.RosedaleFuneral.com