Avis de décès de Ralph-William Walker - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

LITTLETON, Colo. - Ralph William Walker, known as Mike, passed away peacefully Oct. 20, 2011, at Porter Hospice after a full and happy life. He was 89 years old. Mike was born Feb. 9, 1922, in East Corinth, to Ruth and Bill Walker. He grew up on potato farms in Aroostook County and graduated from the University of Maine in 1949, where he was a proud member of ATO. Leaving the family farm behind, he followed his brothers Pete and Al out west, where he enrolled in a graduate program in psychology at the University of Idaho - the other potato state. While working on his thesis on juvenile delinquents in 1954, he met and married a social worker from Idaho Falls, Kathleen Robinson. They had seven children together, which gave Mike a chance to use his psychology degree both at work and at home. Kathleen died in 1975, leaving Mike a devoted single father to his lively crew. He worked as an industrial psychologist, first for General Electric and later for Martin Marietta. In 1985 Mike retired to Idaho for a life of gentleman farming with his father-in-law, Reid; and brother-in-law, John. He kept busy with hunting, fishing, golf, bridge, and the daily comics and crossword puzzle. After the death of mother-in-law Margaret in 1999, Mike moved back to Littleton, Colo., to be near four of his children. He is survived by his sister, Barbara Leason and her husband, Bob, of Farmingdale; his sister-in-law, Fran Robinson of Nampa, Idaho; his children, Michael and wife, Dena, and son, Reid, of Brunswick, Maureen of Littleton, Colo., Reid of Denver, Molly and husband, Peter, and daughters, Catherine and Marianne, of Norwalk, Conn., Rob and wife, Michele, and daughters, Shauna and Andrea, of Centennial, Colo., Gerard of Littleton, Colo., and John of New York City; 21 nieces and nephews. Mike was, in Nat King Cole's words, "unforgettable in every way. " A celebration of his life was held 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at Drinkwine Mortuary, Littleton, Colo. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Centennial's Porter Hospice are encouraged. Leave condolences at www.drinkwinefamilymortuary.com.