Obituary of Gretchen Walker

Gretchen Myers Walker, 100, passed away on January 19, 2019, at The Hudson Grande, where she had been living for the last three years.  Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Redmon Funeral Home located in Stow. A private, family service is planned for this Spring.

Gretchen Walker was born in 1918 to Dana Stanley “Pappy” Myers and to his wife, Geraldine or “Gerry” in Akron, Ohio.  She graduated from West High School in Akron and took courses at the University of Akron before meeting and marrying Wallace William “Bud” Walker, her loving husband of thirty-six years.  Bud and Gretchen had three children, whom they each cherished.  The Walkers were longtime Hudson residents, living on Aurora Street between Hudson High School and Western Reserve Academy, at both of which Bud and Gretchen loved attending school events and athletic contests in which their children were involved.  Gretchen continued to live in her home on Aurora Street until her 97th year, when she moved to The Hudson Grande. 

Throughout her life, Gretchen had a love of music, dance, and theater. In earlier years she was an active and competitive duplicate bridge player; she enjoyed playing golf and going to movies with Bud; and she was a member of the Hudson Players.  She was a keen follower of the news, recalling readily the Army-McCarthy Hearings, and she never missed watching a national political convention.  Gretchen especially loved to travel and held fond memories of having visited numerous countries around the world, including Japan, Thailand, India, Afghanistan, Egypt, Russia, and many European countries.  She particularly treasured her visit to the Bible Lands, including Israel and Jordan.

Gretchen Walker was a lifelong Christian Scientist and was grateful for her faith and the support it gave her as well as for the friends she made through church.  She was a member of the Mother Church in Boston, Massachusetts, and she was one of the founding members of the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Hudson, for which at different times she served as a Second Reader, First Reader, and member of the Board.   

Gretchen is survived by her children, Wallace William, Jr., or “Bill” (Angie) of Brecksville, Ohio; David (Sara) of Windsor Heights, Iowa; and Wendy, of Denver, Colorado; by her grandchildren, Kristin Walker Boose (Eric) of Broadview Heights, Ohio; Wallace William Walker, III (Ruth) of West Newton, Massachusetts; Kincaid Walker of Studio City, California; Renner Walker of Brooklyn, NY; Christopher Jewett (Amanda) of Park City, Utah; and Courtney Jewett of Cleveland, Ohio; by four great-grandchildren, Anna Sophia Walker, Xander Boose, Walker Boose, and Vivienne Boose; and by her nephews, four children of her beloved brother and her sister-in-law, Dana (Barbara), Scott (Gina), Seth (Jane), and David Myers.  She was predeceased by her father and mother, her husband, and by her brother Stanley Dana Myers and his wife, Pauline. 

Gretchen’s family is grateful for the care and attention that the staff of The Hudson Grande and Kindred Hospice gave to her.  Gifts in memory of Gretchen Walker may be made to the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Hudson, or to the charity of the individual’s choice.