March 3, 2006
  The ADVOCATE
  Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties
  Volume 10, No. 17
  Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown
  
  Page 5, Column 1:
  
  "Howard R. Walker
  1926-2006
  Funeral services for Howard R. Walker, 80, rural Blue Mound, are today, Friday, March
  3, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel, Garnett, with Rev. Gary
  Benjamin officiating.  Interment is in Garnett Cemetery.  Mr. Walker died Monday,
  February 27, at Allen County Hospital, Iola.
  Howard R. Walker was born February 21, 1926, at rural Centerville, the son of Vernon
  Howard and Mary (Ramsay) Walker.  He lived in the Centerville area all of his life. 
  From a very small child, the only occupation he ever wanted to do was to be a farmer. 
  He loved farming and intended to do it until he died.  In the mid-1950's, he was among
  the first to use minimum-till and K-State took slides of his machinery adaptations to
  show at the county meetings.  Howard enjoyed nature, bringing in bouquets of wild
  flowers or unusual grasses, calling the family to come see a beautiful sunrise or sunset,
  appreciating the beauty in which he was working.
  Howard and Alice Frazier were married February 5, 1950, at Iola.  She survives of their
  home.  They were fortunate to have 56 years together.  They had two children, John and
  Alicia.  He delighted in doing things for them and with them, even including riding a
  bicycle backwards.  The family had fantastic experiences as they camped their way
  across the 40 contiguous states, enjoying the beauty and the history.
  Howard was active in organizations to benefit the community.  Governor Mike Hayden
  appointed him to serve on the State Mined Land and Reclamation Board.  In 1960, he
  was honored with the Banker's Award for Conservation and in 1993 he received the
  Continuation Award.
  Howard served as president of the 6 County Resource, Conservation and Development
  (RC&D); Tri-Ko (a three-county organization for the developmentally disabled); Linn
  County Extension Council; Linn County Soil Conservation Board, Linn County Planning
  Board, Anderson County Rural Water Board #6; and served several terms as a member of
  the Linn County Farm Bureau Board and was on the Linn County Co-op Board.  He was
  a Community Leader for Flying C 4-H.
  He was a former member of Selma Methodist Church where he was active in God's
  Little Acre program and Blue Mound Federated Church.  In 1981, he and his wife
  transferred their membership to the Garnett Presbyterian Church, where he was an
  Ordained Elder and co-taught an evening Bible Study for 18 years.  His religion was very
  important to his life and until his last few months, Howard had been regularly attending
  church and Sunday School.
  Mr. Walker was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Mary Walker; and his
  sister, Arleta Rhoades.
  Howard is also survived by his son, John Walker and his wife, Peggy, of McFarland, KS;
  his daughter, Alicia Jackson and her husband, Dale, of Uniontown; his brother, Virles
  Walker of Sweeney, TX; his sisters, Pauline Edwards of Arvada, CO, Kathleen Peters of
  Yukon, OR, Mary Ellen Marler of Arlington Heights, IL, and Patricia Ashburn of Ft.
  Worth, TX; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
  Music will be provided by Laura Parks, organist, and Richard Parks, vocalist.  Musical
  selections included 'How Great Thou Art', 'Amazing Grace', and 'Dwelling in Beulah
  Land'.
  Casketbearers are Mary Jane Fikes, Julie TenEyck, Kenneth TenEyck, Jubal Walker,
  Gretchen Magee, Les Magee, Meaghan Jackson, Matt Russell, and Caitlin Jackson.
  The family suggests memorials be made to the Howard R. Walker and Alice Frazier
  Walker Scholarship, Emporia State University.
  Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements."
  
  Transcribed for 
  Anderson County
  Kansas
  USGENWEB
  By:  Lulu B. Nixon