Joanne C. Walker, 70 years of age and a longtime Hoquiam-area resident, died on Thursday, June 5, 2014, at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, Washington.
She was born on September 29, 1943, in Seattle Washington to Joseph L. and Opal Fay (Hall) Waunch.
After graduating from Olympia High School in 1961, Joanne C. Waunch married Kenneth
W. Walker in Olympia on June 15, 1961. The couple soon moved to their Dekay Road home in Hoquiam.
After her husband, Ken, died in 2000, Joanne enjoyed spending time in Sequim.
After moving to Hoquiam, Joanne worked in the Post Offi ce at the Humptulips Grocery Store, for the Hoquiam Senior Center and then for the Olympic Area Agency on Aging (O3A) until her retirement.
After she retired, Joanne continued to care for the seniors. During her years at O3A she traveled to four counties helping different agencies with their programs.
Joanne was a strong advocate for seniors and dedicated years of her life to helping seniors access the services they needed.
Joanne spent hours making numerous handmade items for family and friends alike. She loved to create just that special thing for people. In addition to knitting or sewing for her family and friends, she also knit stocking caps for cancer patients. Joanne loved to play cards and to cook; and was cherished for her homemade rolls. “Grandma” Joanne adored each of her grandchildren, and one of her favorite pastimes was playing Bingo.
Joanne C. Walker is survived by one son, John (A’Dee) Walker, of Aberdeen; three daughters, Mary Lou (Stephen) Bissett, of Chehalis, Cindy (Juan) Falla, of Hoquiam and Ruth (Van) Redding of Menlo, Washington; eleven grandchildren, Garrett Walker, Hayden Walker, Danica (Andy) Middleton, Tiffi ni Walker, Amanda White, Alex Falla, Tigre Falla, Lauren Emery, Vanesa Redding, Damian Redding, and Julia Bissett; two great grandchildren, Amelia Middleton and Taya Middleton; two sisters, Gloria J. Norris and Marion Barr; a brother-in-law, E. Richard Walker and other relatives.
Besides her husband, Ken, Joanne was preceded in death by her sisters, Pearl L. Pickett, Dorothy Miller, Donnell Barbour and a brother, George S. Waunch-Binns.
A cryptside service of inurnment will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 21, 2014, at the Sunset Memorial Park Garden Mausoleum in Hoquiam, Washington.
Following the inurnment service there will be a potluck at John and A’Dee’s home, 1007 North J Street in Aberdeen, starting at 3 p.m.
Donations can be made to Harbors Home Health and Hospice, 201 Seventh Street, Hoquiam, WA 98550 or to the Calvary Lutheran Church Kitchen Fund, P.O. Box 1957 in Aberdeen 98520.
On Friday, June 20, 2014, Joanne’s family and friends encourage you to join them at the Hoquiam Elks for the Elks Burger and Bingo Night. They will start serving the Burgers around 5:30 p.m. and Bingo will start at 7 p.m. Direction is by the Coleman Mortuary, 422 Fifth Street in Hoquiam.
Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
