Illega Walker, 86

Illega M. Walker, 86, of Montpelier passed away peacefully Saturday, December 13, 2014 at Community Health Professionals Inpatient Hospice in Defiance, Ohio.  Illega was born August 25, 1928 in rural Pioneer, Ohio, the daughter of James Earl and Vergi Ruth (Pippin) King.  Illega attended the Pioneer schools thru her junior year.  She attended the Montpelier School her senior year and graduated with the class of 1946.

She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Montpelier and Women of the Moose in Montpelier.  Illega married C. Earl Walker July 5, 1947 in Paulding, Ohio and he survives.  Illega’s employment included, The Oppenheim Novelty Company in Pionner, Krusell’s Diner, Kroger Company, Cottage Inn Restaurant, Kaufman-Paramont Theaters, Louden Department Store and was a charter employee of Manco / Beam Stream (Philips Magnavox) all in Montpelier, until retirement in 1990.  She loved being a homemaker, bowling, bridge, cooking, crocheting, camping, living at Hamilton Lake while observing her grandkids become proficient water skiers and especially watching their performances with the Hamilton Lake Show Ski Team of that period.  She enjoyed her swimming pool and parades, hosting family get togethers for birthdays, holidays, corn roasts and fish fry’s, her 3 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Surviving is her husband Earl of Montpelier; daughter Denise Brown of Montpelier; daughter-in-law Jeanine Walker of Hamilton Lake, Indiana; brother-in-law Dale Walker of Bryan, Ohio; 3 grandchildren, John Henricks of Wauseon, Ohio (Velvet Henricks of Montpelier); Christopher (Kathy) Walker of Bryan, Ohio and Sabrina (Brad) Fox of Edgewater, Maryland; 3 great grandchildren, Noelle and Raya Henricks of Montpelier and Bowen Walker of Bryan; sister Dottie Tyler of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; 1 niece and 4 nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, son Dennis Walker of Hamilton Lake, Indiana (Show Ski Team Driver), son-in-law Tommy Brown of Montpelier, brother-in-law Tom Tyler of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, sister Ruby and husband (Lowell) Douglas of Adrian, Michigan, brother Lloyd King of Pioneer, brother and sister-in-law Olen and Anita Walker of Bryan and their 3 sons, Robert of Pioneer, John of Napoleon and Steve of Bryan.

Visitation for Illega will be on Wednesday December 17th from 2-6pm at the Thompson Funeral Home on Main Street in Montpelier.  Services will be on Thursday December 18th at 11am at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Montpelier with Pastor Paul Gruetter to officiate.  Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier.  In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Communtiy Health Professionals Inpatient Hospice Center, Defiance or Donor’s choice.