Donna Walker

Donna Ruth Walker valiantly returned to her Heavenly Father on July 9, 2023. She was born on
October 26, 1930, in Ogden, Utah to Rufus and Randa Lewis. She was a member of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all her life.
She loved school and was in the pep club and on the basketball team at Ogden High School. 15 was a
pivotal age for her as it saw her not only take 3 rd in the State of Utah for archery for her age division,
but it’s when her school friend Louise introduced her to Bill Walker, Louise’s cousin, which would
change her world, forever. After Bill came home from WW2 it was not long until one night, he
asked, “What are you doing on Saturday? Do you want to get married?”
On 27 th August 1948 by a Justice of the Peace at 11:30 at night in Elko, NV with, their parents
present, they were married. She was 17 and Bill 21.
She spent a career at Hill AFB working her way up from clerk typist to historian in the munitions area
and then onto be the first female Management Analyst on the base. She was the only woman on a
team with 23 men. She set an example to her daughter, that glass ceilings can and will be broken,
and made the Hill AFB newspaper when at two months shy of 40, gave birth to a little girl after 22
years of marriage. Billie Jean brought an end to the racing across the California desert in a Carmen
Ghia sportscar, and opened a whole new world, which would be her life for the next 52 years. She
and Bill were avid campers, hunters and loved the great outdoors. Many happy family memories
were made at Flaming Gorge, Bear Lake, and Yellowstone.
Her talents were with people and information. She could organize anything and was proactive
before it was ever a buzz word. She had compassion on everyone and a real humanitarian heart.
She and Bill taught their daughter she could be anything she wanted to be, if she set her mind to it,
to be independent, and self-reliant.
She retired in 1972 and in 1974, the Walkers moved to Phoenix, AZ. for health reasons. Bill & Donna
were sealed in the Mesa, AZ temple in November 1983, with Billie sealed to them for eternity.
Donna served in many callings in the church, teaching primary, relief society and serving in the RS
Presidency as 1 st counsellor and President. She was the epitome of a stalwart visiting teacher, even
teaching a lady with Alzheimers who lived at Ashleecare, for many months until she passed away in
2009. She always had a listening ear, sound advice, a death grip hand squeeze and love to give to
anyone who needed it.
The Lord blessed her to have a sound mind almost up until she passed away. She knew who her
family were and expressed her last words as “I love you.”
Billie & Robert would like to thank their family, friends, and Wembley ward family for all the
thoughts, prayers, and love; Hospice Promise for making her last few months of life as gentle and
pain-free as possible. To Ashleecare-- Michael and Neda Oleary and Mario & Daniela Voinescu, for
20 years of the most relaxed and joyous existence one could ask for in assisted living.

In keeping with Donna’s wishes, there will be no viewing. She did not want “a dark, sombre funeral”
and requests people feel free to wear color— “like Easter.” As her favorite hymn was, Because I
Have Been Given Much, she requested in lieu of flowers, that people who wish to, donate to
https://give.feedingamerica.org/a/donate-in-honor? (donnawalker3026@gmail.com as Honoree
email) or to your local food bank.

She is preceded in death by her eternal sweetheart, Frederick William (Bill) Walker, her parents,
Rufus and Randa Lewis and sister Norma McFarlane (Peter McFarlane)
She is survived by her only child Billie Jean Fritsche (Robert Fritsche, London, England). Donna was
bonus grandma Walker to Miilae Valencia’s children, Sofia and Abram who made her giggle and
loved bringing her gummy bears and Pringles.

Graveside services will be held at Ben Lomond Cemetery in N. Ogden, Utah at 10am on Wednesday
19th July. 526 E 2850 N, North Ogden, UT 84414.