Winifred Anne Walker

Obituary Winifred Anne (Jacobs) Walker, 85, a 62 year resident of the Lakewood area, died Friday morning January 12, 2007 at the American Lake VA Nursing Home. She was born June 30, 1921 in Lehigh, Montana to John Clinton and Bridget Winifred (Colarchik) Jacobs. Wyn spent a delightful childhood growing up on a ranch near Great Falls, Montana. After attending Catholic schools through high school, she entered the Columbus School of Nursing. Following graduation she was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the US Army Nurse Corps in February 1943. Her first assignment was Camp San Luis Obispo, CA. About six months after arriving, while decorating a hall for a dance, a young staff sergeant named Charles Walker introduced himself. He was to become her husband several years later. In March 1944, Wyn was sent overseas to her next post, the 76th General Hospital in Leominster, England, and from there shipped across the English Channel to a field hospital in France. After serving 17 months overseas she returned to the states and was honorably discharged. She was awarded three battle stars for duty and saw action during the Battle of the Bulge. Wyn married Charles in October 1945 and the couple permanently settled in the Lakewood area where they raised four children: Ginger (Don) Reddington of Twisp; John (Cindi) Walker of Olympia; Jeff (Mary) Walker of Lakewood; and Vicki Woolley of Olympia. Wyn was the proud grandmother of seven girls: Shawna, Becky, and Donni [Ginger]; Alisha [Vicki]; Lauren [John]; Sophia and Natasha [Jeff]; and two boys Evan and Cole [John]. She was also the great-grandmother of Trinity, Jadon, and Gabriel [Becky], and Tieg [Shawna]. Wyn was employed at as a nurse at the American Lake VA Hospital for 16 years and retired from there in 1976. When she could no longer live independently in her home, she returned to the VA as a patient, and resided there in the excellent and loving care of the nursing home staff until her death. Wyn was preceded in death by her husband Charles in 1997. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Lakewood on Friday, January 19, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. Rosary will be 30 minutes prior also at the church. A gathering of family and friends will follow the services at the church. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. Viewing will be held all day Thursday, January 18th, at the Gaffney Funeral Home in Tacoma. Flowers or donations may be made to St. John Bosco Catholic Church.