Arden Walker

Arden Canfield Walker, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, passed away July 17, 2016, at home surrounded by family. He was the second of five children born to Judson B. And Iva. C. Walker of Toledo Ohio, on August 5, 1919. He married his high school sweetheart Fern Mickens Walker on November 4, 1939. Arden proudly served his country in the Pacific Theater as a Naval Full Lieutenant in charge of navigation and communications during World War II . Upon his honorable discharge he returned home to Toledo, where he completed graduate school at the University of Michigan while serving as a young principal of Whitmer High School. He fondly remembers most student names from the Class of ‘50, many of whom he corresponded with all his life. Arden enjoyed a rich and varied professional career with Ernst and Ernst in Cleveland, American Cast Iron Pipe in Birmingham, Gulf States Paper in Tuscaloosa, Jacksonville Paper in Jacksonville, and Iowa Beef Packers in Sioux City. His negotiation skills and dedication to innovative problem solving brought him notoriety and many honors. Upon retirement he and Fern settled into their dream home on Lake Hartwell and traveled the world. They worshiped with the Reed Creek Baptist Church and he was a 50+ year member of the Masonic Lodge. Arden was an extraordinarily gifted man who demonstrated his love for knowledge and adventure, along with a joyful disposition, throughout life. As a gentleman of principles and integrity, he lived by a moral code of loyalty and patriotism which led him to do the right thing when faced with choices. Arden had a deep faith in God and loved talking with and mentoring the many young people in his life. As a husband and partner, he showed his love with word and deed until Fern’s death on July 6, 2009. He is survived by four children: Ronald, of Hartwell; Ruth Evans (Clyde) of Muscatine IA; John (Kathy) of Ormond Beach FL; David (Cherry) of Morristown TN. Grandchildren are Christine, Jeffry (Kim), Barbara (Eric), Alan (Shalan), Neil (Holly), Jennifer (Kory), Laura, Adra, Brandi (Mike), Summer(Joe), Michael and Brian (Katie). Great-grandchildren are Elle, Christian, Olivia, Reagan, Noah, Ryan, Kuinton, Mycah, Landon, Ella, Mya, Seth, Charlotte, Sydney, Beckett and Emersyn. His surviving sisters are Irene Baade and Janet Viers. He was preceded in death by brothers Wayne and Alvin Walker. Services: 4 p.m. on Friday, July 22, 2016 at Coile Hall Spagnoli Funeral Home with Military Honors. Visitation: 2:00-4:00 p.m. prior to the service. Private Entombment: Volusia Memorial Park in Ormond Beach. We invite you to come help us honor and celebrate a life well-lived. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.chsfuneralhome.com