George R. Walker

George R. Walker

November 13, 1930 - December 28, 2011

George R. Walker

November 13, 1930 - December 28, 2011

Obituary

George Reiling Walker

Age 81, died peacefully at home on December 28, 2011 in Lake Forest, CA.
George was born in Huntington, West Virginia on November 13, 1930, the eldest son to Ralph and Elizabeth Walker and grew up in West Virginia and Pittsburg, PA with his brother Bill and sister Mary Ann. He graduated from high school in South Gate, CA as outstanding student with numerous awards and was editor of his high school yearbook. He then went on to study at USC on a full scholarship where he was President of his fraternity, graduated Magna Cum Laude from the USC School of Engineering with a BS in Electrical Engineering and remained a lifelong Trojan football fan. George went to work with Westinghouse for twenty years as a Sales Engineer in the Aerospace Industry and then retired from Texas Instruments in 1993. After retirement he joined Power Devices with his friends.

On May 2, 1953 he married the love of his life and most devoted fan, Sharon Sawyer. They raised seven children: Carol, Valerie, Shirley, Georgia, Marilyn, Jim, and Bill in several towns in California, Maryland and returned to California and spent several decades in Mission Viejo, CA. George’s life was centered around his family and he loved being in the garden or in the kitchen making one of his famous soups. He was Little League baseball coach and Indian Guide leader for his sons. His children fondly remember the family vacations to the beach, mountains and cross-country adventures. Later in life he discovered snorkeling and scuba diving, which he learned with Sharon on one of their many trips to Bonaire.

George was known as “Pops” to his 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren and loved being the patriarch to his large extended Walker family. He was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by his family and friends while his spirit lives on in the many lives he touched.

Visitation will be on Thursday January 5th at O’Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills. Funeral Mass will be at St. Kilian Catholic Church in Mission Viejo at 9 am on Friday January 6th with burial at El Toro Memorial Park in Lake Forest.

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22 responses to George R. Walker

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  1. Georgia says:

    Lit a candle in memory of George R. Walker

  2. Noel Barna says:

    Lit a candle in memory of George R. Walker

  3. The George I Remember

    My first recollection of George was in 1949 when I was a freshman-engineering student at USC. I remember seeing this very tall, serious looking (I didn’t know then he could be so fun-loving),curly headed guy walking around campus carrying a drafting board under his arm. No one else looked like that.
    The next year I pledged Sigma Phi Delta, and there he was-another pledge! During that pledge period George and I had some challenging times. Every Monday night we had to attend dinner at the fraternity house, a pledge meeting, and then come before the active chapter to atone for our transgressions that occurred during the past week. I recall one night we had a very late meeting, and since we both commuted, we stayed overnight in the attic surrounded by boxes.
    We had two opportunities to get even with the actives: (1) we captured two actives, took them for a ride and dropped them off outside of Palmdale. (2) we ditched the Monday night meeting , took the silverware and whatever we could gather from the kitchen and traveled to the South Bay to visit a nightclub. These two activities were required of us to develop a pledge class spirit and organization.
    During “Hell Week” held between semesters, George and I participated in work parties in the day to repair and maintain the chapter house. At night we had other pledge class projects. One involved a scavenger hunt up and down Wilshire Blvd.
    Another night we were sent to the Coliseum to look for a golf ball that one of the actives had thrown in. The group of us formed a line with candles and swept the entire field and seat area, but never found it.
    Later that night we were sent to the Rose Bowl to create an engineering plot plan view of the facilities that also included a count of the bathrooms. It was foggy that night so it was a bit difficult to see. It was also difficult for the nightwatchman to see us. As dawn approached and we were nearly finished, but the fog lifted and we were exposed. As we were preparing to leave, Pasadena’s finest were waiting at the gate. We explained why we were there: they took our names and said if anything were out of place, we would hear from them.
    Why am I recording this goofy stuff? It’s the kind of activity that bonds brothers together, and creates lifelong relationships.
    Later we became actives ourselves. George was always a fun guy and smart too. Eventually, he became president (I was his vp). We had many social parties at the house. I got to meet Sharon at that time. I could tell that she and George were very much in love.
    George and Sharon were married in 1953 in a church in South Gate. That night the fraternity had its Red Rose Formal. Would you believe that George and Sharon showed up? I delayed honeymoon, I guess.
    After graduation George took a job with Westinghouse on the east coast. We kept in touch. Later they returned to the L.A. with George getting a job locally.
    In 1959 Victoria and I married in Hollywood; George was my best man.
    We still remember visiting George and Sharon and the girls and finally the boys. Since those times we have always kept in touch.

    Bob Nagy

  4. George has been my cousin and true friend for 76 years. He played with me as a child, helped me during my younger life and then he and Sharon were truly like a brother and sister thoughout our years. I pray for him now as I remember all the good times we had together. God bless you George. Love, Dave

  5. Lit a candle in memory of George R. Walker

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