Allan’s Obituary Allan MacLean Walker died January 26, 2019 or as he would say, “Passed to the other side”. A funeral service will be 11AM, Thursday, January 31, 2019 at Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, GA, with military honors and Scottish piper. All are welcome to attend.
Allan was born in Atlanta March 1, 1928. The only child of Olah Mock Walker and Allan Sr., Allan was very proud of his father who emigrated from Scotland at age 14 in 1909. As a cellist, Allan Sr. co-founded the first Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with Enrico Liede, Conductor in the early 20’s, and they played regularly in Atlanta until the early 30’s.
Allan Sr. also had an orchestra that played at the Biltmore Hotel and many of the city’s private clubs. He died in 1941. Young Allan grew up in the Studio Arts Building at the corner of Peachtree and 14th street, which was managed by his parents from 1931 to 1948.
It was a great place to learn and grow up in what is now Midtown Atlanta. Allan knew all the businesses from Pershing Point to the Fox Theatre. He would take a streetcar from 14th street to Candler Field Airport, Marietta Square, Stone Mountain, Grant Park and Oglethorpe with ease.
His parents had an antique shop, furniture repair and upholstery business, and Allan became involved and interested in furniture making; a business he was in for 12 years. He was called to active duty with the Navy serving in the construction battalion, “the Seabees” for 22 months in 1952 and spent 12 months in Korea. Allan met Joan Barbara Day in Atlanta, and they were married in August of 1963.
They raised two sons and enjoyed a wonderful life together in Atlanta and at Lake Lanier until Joan’s death in February of 2011. In 1958 Allan was hired by the Graber Co, a maker of drapery hardware, as a salesman for six southeastern states. He would advance at Graber to the positions of Regional Manager, Field Sales Manager, VP of Marketing and VP of Sales.
In 1982, he left Graber and worked for Roper and Joanna Western before retiring in 1989. Allan and Joan retired to Lake Lanier, and after 31 years, he went back to his love of furniture making and woodworking, boating, and tomato raising. He missed his many customers and co-workers but not the business.
Allan was preceded in death by his father Allan M. Walker, mother Olah Mock Thompson, and step-father Roger Thompson, and his beloved wife Joan Day Walker. He is survived by his sons Robert Allan Walker, daughter-in-law Michelle Anthonette Walker, and granddaughter Jordan Anne Walker of Davisburg MI, son Roger MacLean Walker, daughter-in-law Rebecca Ridgeway Fite, granddaughter Jane Day Walker, and grandson Fite MacLean Walker of Atlanta, GA. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Parkinson Disease Association, Salvation Army or charity of your choice.
The family will receive friends Thursday, January 31, 2019 from 1PM – 4PM in the Reception Room of McDonald and Son Funeral Home and Crematory, 150 Sawnee Drive, Georgia 30040. 770-886-9899 www.
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