SGT. JAMES KELVIN WALKER, MMM CD1 RCAF / CAF (RETIRED)

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SGT. JAMES KELVIN WALKER, MMM CD1 RCAF / CAF (RETIRED) It is with sadness that the family announces the passing of Kelly Walker at Winnipeg, Manitoba on August 3, 2014. James Kelvin (Kelly) Walker was born in the Neepawa hospital December 8, 1936. He spent the first seven years of his life on the family farm located six miles south of Neepawa in the community of Harboro. In 1944 the family moved to Portage la Prairie where he lived until the age of 19 when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. His first military duties were, two months basic training at St-Jean, QC, two months contact training at North Bay, ON, followed by six months Munitions and Weapons training at Camp Borden, ON. His first posting was to North Bay, ON where he met Donna Edna McLellan and in August 1958 they were married. In 1960 they were transferred to Number Four Fighter Wing, Baden Soellingen, West Germany to serve with NATO for the next three years. In 1961 a son Harvey Donald came into their lives. In 1963 they were transferred to Chatham, NB where in 1964 a daughter Nancy Lynn was born. In 1967 they were transferred to North Bay, ON where Kelly attended Nipissing College as an Extension Student from 1969 to 1971 and successfully completed one year of university. In 1972 the family was transferred back to Germany to Canadian Forces Base Europe. In 1975 they were transferred to CFB Winnipeg where Kelly served until 1981 when he chose to retire rather than accept another transfer with a promotion. In 1980 Sgt. Walker was honoured with the Order of Military Merit award and presented with the Medal by then Governor General Edward Schreyer in Ottawa. In his 26 year military career Kelly carried out training and/or duties in seven Canadian Provinces as well as five other countries. Kelly was a trained instructor, and spent most of his military career working on Jet Fighters and in the field of Explosive Ordnance Disposal. He was a member of the Air Force Association of Canada and The Royal Canadian Legion Branch Number 4 in Winnipeg. In 1981 Kelly began a second career with Simpsons-Sears in Winnipeg where he worked for over 20 years as the Assistant Manager of Resources Protection in Sears Garden City store. In 1988 he met Debra (Debbie) Dawn Patterson (nee Aikens) and on July 26, 1998 they were married. Following retirement he spent the summers at the family cottage in the Whiteshell. Kelly was predeceased by a brother Paul in 1966, his father Wilfred in 1980, his mother Mabel in 1985, his first wife Donna in 1987, and his sister-in-law Shirley in 2007. Kelly is survived by his wife Debbie; son Harvey (Tara) and their daughters Jasmine, Madison, Daria and Bailey; daughter Nancy (Randy); stepsons Cory, Curt and Kyle Patterson, all living in Winnipeg, and a brother Dennis (Joy) of Portage la Prairie and his family. Respecting Kelly's wishes, no formal funeral service will be held, and a private family interment has taken place in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Portage la Prairie, MB. Chapel Lawn www.chapellawn.ca 204-885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 09, 2014