Page County IA Archives Obituaries.....Walker, Leslie D. 1957
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Nettie Mae Lucas http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003602 July 17, 2005, 12:43 pm

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Leslie D. Walker
"Founder of Walker Funeral Home, first residential funeral home in southwest Iowa"
1891 - 1957
Funeral service were held at the First Methodist Church Wednesday at 2 pm for
Leslie D. Walker, 66, prominent Clarinda funeral director who died unexpectedly
of a cerebral hemorrhage in a local physician's office Saturday morning.
Although he had a heart ailment, Mr. Walker was in good health otherwise and
active in conducting his funeral home and other business interests. He had
complained of a stomach upset Friday night but felt well enough to go to the
physician's office the following morning. 
Born on Aug. 5, 1891, in Page County, the son of Horace and Mary Walker, Leslie
worked on the farm four miles east of Clarinda and for Farmers Union Shipping
Association following his formal schooling. In 1918 he became associated with
Mac Pruitt in the furniture and funeral business. Later Mr. Walker and Wilbur
Kelley entered partnership in a furniture business on the south east corner of
the square. In 1921 they bought out Charlie Oats and moved into his location. 
Mr. Walker bought out Kelley's interest in the business. Thirty years ago he
moved to the present location on E. Washington St., dropping the furniture end
of the business. It is at this spot that the started the first residential
funeral home in southwest Iowa. 
Mr. Walker received a diploma from the Hohenschuh-Carpenter School of embalming
at St. Louis Mo. He held state funeral and embalmer licenses and was a member of
the Iowa Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors'
Association. He served as page County coroner a number of years but chose not to
be a candidate for re-election several years ago because of his health. 
He was an active member of the First Methodist Church and was a trustee. Mr.
Walker also belonged to the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, the Kiwanis Club, of
which he was a charter member, and the Chamber of Commerce. 
Surviving are his wife Mary; two daughters, Mrs. Loren (Mildred) Davison and
Mrs. Dale (Dolores) Bellairs, both of Clarinda; two brothers, Harry R. Walker of
Clarinda and Jess Walker of Napa, Calif; three sisters, Mrs. J. (Maisy) Crain of
Clarinda, Mrs. George (Daisy) Schurr and Mrs. Floyd (Amy) Shum, both of Bedford;
and one grandchild, Rosemary Davison of Clarinda. 
The Rev J. Lester Greenwood pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate
at the services Wednesday. Interment will be in the Clarinda Cemetery, Walker
Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The body will lie in state at the
funeral home from Tuesday at 4:30 pm until Wednesday at 12:30 pm.


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