ROBERT LYLE WALKER

Lt. Col. Robert L. Walker, 92, of Columbia City, IN passed away at 8:30 p.m. November 13, 2013 at his home in Columbia City. Born December 25, 1920 in Huntington, he was the son of Leslie A. and Elsie M. (Ramsey) Walker.

Raised in Huntington, Robert graduated from Huntington High School with the Class of 1938, and began working at Caswell-Runion. On January 14, 1942 he married Juanita Glenn Welches in Fort Wayne. Bob and Juanita lived in Ft. Wayne until they bought a farm near Tri-Lakes in 1954, raising their family there until moving to Columbia City in 1992. Upon joining the Army Air Corp, Robert attended Mississippi State College, receiving high honors and attended flight training in Texas.Robert then became a B-24 pilot, stationed in Panama during WWII. After his service duty in Panama, he returned to Indiana, to work for the railroad, until his retirement in1980. During this time Major Robert L Walker continued his education, while serving the Air Force in the reserves. During this time he received appointment as a Liaison Officer to recruit elite individuals for the Air Force Academy. Bob also received his promotion to Lt. Col. during these years. After retirement, Bob became an avid golfer, as a member of the Railroad Golf league, and also had been a member of the American Legion and the Elks.

Survivors include his daughters, Lynne (Bob) Petty of Silver Spring, MD, Billie (Steven) Kastan of Alpine Meadows, CA, Louise Walker of Santa Fe, NM, and Jean Bird of Columbia City; sisters, Marjorie Marshall of Surprise, AZ and Evelyn Walker of Temperance, MI; grandchildren, Christopher (Jennifer) Grable, Andrea Bird Kidd, Jessica (Sean) Eaves, Jennifer Petty Baldwin, Greg Petty, Derek (Katy) Petty and Nicole Kastan; and 16 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Juanita Walker in 2010; sisters, Louise Wilkinson, Nedra Layer, Ruth Smith; and brothers, William and Stanley Walker.

A memorial gathering will take place on Saturday, December 14, 2013,1 to 3pm at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Dr, Columbia City with a memorial service at 3 p.m. Memorials can be made in honor of Mr. Walker to the National Parkinson's Foundation.