Shirley A Walker

Shirley A. Walker, 95, of Elgin, IL, formerly of Silvis, IL, died Saturday, October 18, 2014, at Autumn Leaves of St. Charles, IL.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, October 23, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., 6601-38th Avenue, Moline, IL. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22, 2014, at the funeral home. Burial will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors and Alzheimers.

The Walker kids, Patricia Andreen, Elgin, IL, H.Lee Walker, Independence, MO, and Wiliam Walker have lost their mother, Shirley Alice Fowler Walker.

Shirley was born in Rock Island, IL on August 12, 1919. As a child and young woman, she lived
on her parents farm in Monmouth, IL, jumping a fence into the bull field, feeding the chickens,
milking cows, using the "outhouse" and replacing fruit in her younger sister's Christmas sock
with coal. She also enjoyed playing April Fool's Day jokes on her children.

As a young adult, Shirley moved to Rock Island, IL, living with wonderful aunt and uncle while
attending Augustana College.

He was tall and handsome. She was petite and shy. She became Mrs. Howard Walker on May 23,
1942, at the 1st Baptist Church of Rock Island. They were married for 62 years.

Shirley's Christian faith was very important to her. She was kindergarten church school teacher
for several years, active in XYZ Christian group, Pathfinders group and a member of the church
bowling team. In midlife, Shirley and Howard became members of the 1st Free Evangelical
church in Moline, IL.

While her husband was serving in the army, Shirley, as a young wife worked at Bituminus as a
secretary. In mid years, she worked for Rock Island Public Works.

She loved her 5 grandchildren and often cared for them, taking a young grandson fishing, caring
for a granddaughter on weekends. She knitted sweaters for a grandson and a dress for a young
granddaughter. Shirley was the proud great grandmother of 5 great grandsons.

Shirley was artistic, painting water color pictures as a child in country school that are now
framed for her family. She enjoyed gardening, "Jack In The Pulpits", sewing and embroidery.

Her interest in community service led her to walk for Alzheimer's, bell ringing for the Salvation
Army. She enjoyed being a member of the Rock Island Womens Club. She was program coordinator for the Garden club. At 89, she would drive to the Rock Island recycle center and drop her recycled paper.

Shirley enjoyed many seasonal interests including picking apples, strawberries, blue berries
and searching for the edible mushrooms with an uncle and her husband. She also enjoyed hiking with her
husband, children and dogs at Loud Thunder. Camping trips with her family to the Western
states was a highlight. Cooking on a Coleman stove, pitching the tent, viewing moose and
bears, having a bear scratch his back on the corner of the pop up tent.

She used many resources in her quest for travel to Alaska and Denali which was her dream.
Shirley and Howard experienced wonderful travels to Europe, Canada and the United States
after his retirement.

Shirley died October 18, 2014. She lived a long and fulfilled life. She has now joined her
husband, parents, William and Harriet Fowler, two brothers and a sister.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Ben Walker, Natalie Andreen, Bill Walker, Rebecca
Cullen, Alex Walker and a friend, Sean Traynor.

Online condolences may be left for her family by visiting esterdahl.com.