Shirley Walker

1924-2022

Shirley Walker nee Leeson was born in Anaheim, California. The family had moved to Norwalk, California by the time she attended Norwalk Grammar School. Shirley graduated from Excelsior High School, Class of 1941. Following graduation, she attended and completed training at Sawyer School of Business.

During World War II she worked from 1941 to 1945 for the Sixth Ferrying Group. This was mainly in Long Beach, California but was sent to Salt Lake City and at least one other location. It was a Division of the Air Transport Command as there was no Air Force established at that time. Following the War, she worked for Dr. Beahm and then for McCullough Tool Company in Los Angeles from 1947 to 1963. While there she was a legal secretary, worked in Personnel, Advertising and was Secretary to the President. Shirley finished her working career in the Norwalk-La Mirada High School District as secretary to the Principal at Norwalk High School (1964-1990).

It is rumored that she almost ran over future husband Bill with her 1937 Chevy Coupe when she worked at Dr. Beamh’s office. Bill also boasted that he got her the job at Norwalk High!

Shirley married Wm. (Bill) Walker in November 1946. Their first home was built by Bill at 18103 Jersey Avenue in Artesia. Next came 18109 Jersey and finally 18116 Gard Avenue in 1960. By that time the family included daughter, Marilyn, Sons, Robert William (Bobby died at 2 years of age of infantile leukemia in 1950.), William Thomas (Tom/deceased), and Donald Neal (Don).

During her well-lived life, Shirley was involved in sports and music, reading, travel and community activities. While in Grammar school, she took 4-6 years of piano lessons with Mrs. Bertsch. In high school, she participated in track and played the bass drum in the marching band! She sang in the choir at Artesia Christian Church. Shirley played tennis, bowled, and did senior aerobics for a while as well as walking with good friend Vera around Artesia. Her community activities involved PTA, Junior, and some Senior Women’s Clubs of Artesia, and was on the Parks and Recreation Committee for the city. She was also a member of the Artesia Historical Society. At Artesia Christian Church she was both a Deacon and an Elder at a time when women were just beginning to serve in leadership rolls.

Travel for Shirley with husband Bill included 3 trips to Europe, a trip to Hawaii, and a Caribbean Cruise. There were also many WWII ship reunions of Bill’s ship the Fanshaw Bay to Denver, Seattle, Midland, Hannibal, Omaha, New Orleans, Branson, St. Louis, and Pensacola. Shirley and Bill made trips to visit Marilyn and her family in Worthington, MN; Greeley, Colorado; Mobile, Alabama; and El Paso, TX and she and daughter Marilyn made one family trip to Maui. For many years Bill and Shirley shared a cabin/property in Twain Harte, CA with sister-in-law Harriett which happened to be just down the road from brother-in-law Verle and a mile from son Tom’s home.

Shirley was mostly confined to her home these last several years. She loved someone coming to visit and for a time, a group of “ladies” met for lunch at a local restaurant. As time has taken its toll and especially the pandemic, her world shrank. She continued to love crossword puzzles, Jeopardy, Tootsie Rolls, ice cream and cookies! She leaves 2 remaining children, 5 grandchildren/step-grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister and 2 brothers, sons Bobby and Tom, and husband Bill. She was the last of our family’s “Greatest Generation”.