Nola Walker May 6, 1922 – October 14, 2018 Nola M. Walker, 96 of Sierra Vista died peacefully on Sunday October 14, 2018. Nola’s parent’s John and Clara Edmondson arrived in Arizona from Knoxville, Tennessee, homesteading in Bowie until 1921. They moved to Benson when her father took a position at the Apache Powder Plant.
Nola was born in a farmhouse near Benson, on May 6th, 1922. The family moved to Phoenix in 1924 where they lived until 1939. Her father passed away and her mother remarried Edward Wilson who was a union carpenter.
They returned to Cochise County where Nola began working for the U.S. Post Office on Fort Huachuca. In 1944, Nola joined the Navy as member of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She attended basic training at Hunter College in New York City.
She was a member of the Singing Platoon, a group of about forty women with strong, beautiful voices. One of Nola’s fondest memories was marching down the center of Broadway to Radio City Music Hall. Broadcasting to the Nation, they sang many songs including the Navy Hymn.
After basic training, Nola was assigned to a blimp base in Santa Ana, California then on to Coronado Island in San Diego where she served as a Master at Arms until the end of World War II. She returned to her beloved Cochise County where she met her future husband, Charles Kelller Walker. They moved on to Fort Huachuca where Mr. Walker worked in Procurement.
As the population of the Sierra Vista area grew, the Garden Canyon Subdivision was built in 1955. It was within that community that Nola and Mr. Walker, along with other early residents, began the tireless effort to incorporate the City which was accomplished in May of 1956. Nola retired from the U.S. Postal service in 1973.
In 1992 Nola sold her home on Sherbundy Street and lived with her daughter Charlotte and Son-In-Law Patrick. Nola began her new role as the fun Grandma, taking her young grandchildren Corey and Kelli on treasure hunts to yard sales and thrift stores. Denny’s and Dunkin Donuts where among their favorite stops.
Her grandson, Corey, taught her how to make dream catchers which began her love of crafting. Nola made hundreds of dream catchers over the years finishing her last one just a few weeks ago. It gave her great joy to give friends, family, and caregivers a dream catcher.
She loved watching the wildlife that visited outside her bedroom especially the Quail and Hummingbirds. Nola loved reading Agatha Christie, poems of Dorothy Parker and Walter Benton, and enjoyed her crossword puzzle from the Sierra Vista Herald every morning. She looked forward to Saturday evenings, watching Lawrence Welk and the Big Band Sounds.
Nola was a founding member of the Henry Hauser Historical Society and a contributor to the Henry F. Hauser Museum. She was a member of St. Andrew’s the Apostle, Catholic Church since the year 2000. Unable to attend Mass as her health declined, she looked forward to her Sunday visits from her dear friend and Pastor, Father Greg Adolf.
Nola is survived by her son David Walker (Sue), daughter Penelope Levario, Daughter Clara Walker, daughter Charlotte O’Donnell (Patrick); grandchildren -Cassie Campbell (Scott), Andy Walker, Tiffany Cheshire-Robles, Corey O’Donnell, and Kelli Luck; great grandchildren Michael Campbell, Brady Robles, Alex Robles, Drew Robles, Tyler Levario, Jack Levario, and Oliver Heald She was preceded in death by her parents Clara and John Edmondson; son Robby Walker, and grandson Carlos Levario. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 800 N. Taylor Drive, Sierra Vista, Arizona. A reception will follow in Madonna Hall located at St Andrews.
Private interment at the Southern Arizona Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, 1300 Buffalo Soldier Trail in Sierra Vista, Arizona will take place at a later date. The family is grateful for the loving physical care given to Nola by Doctor Monica Vandivort, the Casa De La Paz Hospice staff, and her nurse Amanda Mancini and the Comfort Care she received in her last hours at Canyon Vista Medical Center. Nola was blessed with many prayers from friends, and neighbors.
We are deeply grateful to Father Greg for his spiritual comfort. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to the Henry F. Hauser Museum or the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
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