Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Gordon Arlon Walker


Gordon Arlon Walker, 78, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006, at his home in Ketchum.

He was born Feb. 2, 1928, in St. Paul, Minn., one of four children of Lloyd and Minnie Walker. He grew up in St. Paul, enlisted and served in World War II after high school, attended and graduated from Hamline University in St. Paul upon his return from the service. Hamline, the friends he made there and its role and impact on his life from childhood, was something he held very dear.

Of the many places he lived, the places he called home included St. Paul, Minn., Chicago, Ill., Greenwich, Conn., Sedalia, Colo., Indian Wells, Calif., and Sun Valley.

Gordon enjoyed life and loved to laugh. He remembered every joke he heard since age 7; and with sharp wit and polished delivery he made everyone else laugh at them no matter how many times they heard them. He enjoyed golf, partly for the competition, but mostly for the people and camaraderie.

His remarkable professional career spanned five decades. Beginning as a school teacher, assistant coach and bus driver in Minnesota, he went on to be president of Colt Firearms, chairman and CEO of US Industries (USI), an executive-in-residence at IMI in Geneva, Switzerland, and owner-CEO of Hollinee. He claimed never to have written a resume.

Gordon is survived by his wife, Janice; younger brother, Norman; children, Douglas, Deborah, Ronald and Gordon Jr. He loved his family greatly. He will be missed by all.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007, at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood in Ketchum. Interment will follow in the Roselawn Cemetery in Roseville, Minn.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Hospice of the Wood River Valley, PO Box 4320, Ketchum, ID 83340, in memory of Gordon A. Walker.

Arrangements are under the care of Wood River Chapel of Hailey.




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