Norman Lee Walker

Norman Lee Walker was born Oct. 1, 1930, at the family farm in rural Jasper County. He was the sixth child of Mary Ellen and John Ervin Walker. He died Jan. 30, 2021, at Banner Baywood Hospital in Mesa, Ariz., at the age of 90.

Norman had a love of horses from an early age. His brothers reported that he learned to ride a horse before he learned to walk. He learned the art of training horses from his father and continued to raise horses until his retirement move to Mesa, Ariz. After graduating from Monroe High School in 1949 he attended Telegraph School in Minneapolis, Minn. He then worked as a telegraph operator for the Chicago Illinois Midland Railroad prior to joining the U.S. Army in 1951. He served in Signal Corp in Alaska during the Korean War. After his service, he returned to the railroad and attended college. He finished at Drake University in Des Moines with an emphasis in microbiology. Norman married Barbara Dalbey on May 9, 1954, in Des Moines.

Norman worked at Diamond Laboratories in Des Moines, prior to moving to Kansas City to start R Laboratories. He also worked for All Star Dairy in Lawrence, Kan., and ended his career with Mid America Dairymen in Kansas City, Mo. He also worked at Viewpoint RV and Golf Resort where he lived in the Courtesy Patrol welcoming guests to the Resort.

Norman was instrumental in getting the Rural Water System to Lexington Township of Johnson County, Kan. He was involved in 4-H with his children, DeSoto Booster Club, Olathe Trailriders, Lexington Township Volunteer Firefighters, Country Store Volunteer Courtesy Patrol and the American Legion Apache Post 27 in Mesa, Ariz.

Norman and Barbara moved to Mesa, Ariz., after selling their Big Bone Lake property in Lexington Township, Johnson County, Kan. He was humbled to be able to go to Washington D.C. with Honor Flight Arizona accompanied by his eldest son, Robert. He also enjoyed bicycling and rode in the MS150 in Kansas City several times. One year Cynthia, Paul and grandson, Bobby all rode with him. He was especially proud of completing the Centurion day ride with Paul. He continued his bicycle riding within a week of his death. Norman continued his love of music after retiring by joining jam sessions with his guitar and later his Dobro at Viewpoint RV and Golf Resort. He was also active in the Gold Canyon UMC Country Church Band. Norman was able to continue his love of music to the end of his life. Norman sang along with Barbara, Robert and Cynthia, one of his favorites, I’ll Fly Away, while he played his “air” Dobro just hours before his death.

Norman leaves his wife Barbara of Mesa, Ariz.; and four children, Robert (Roberta) Grain Valley, Mo., Cynthia (Paul) Olathe, Kan., Randall (Milagros) Floresville, Texas, and Richard (Monica) DeSoto, Kan.; eight grandchildren, Robert, Bethany, Beau, Bradley, Krista, Lucas, Alekssander and Kyle; 15 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.