Hilda Ann Walker

Hilda was born on October 20, 1926 in Ord, Nebraska to Anna and Joseph Lola, immigrants of Czechoslovakia. She was the middle child, between her older sister, Amelia Reid, and younger brother, Joe Lola. Unable to speak English when she started school, she became a good student and graduated as the Salutatorian of her class and recipient of a 4-year scholarship to Kearney State Teachers College. After graduating in 1947, she married Wallace Emmett Walker and together they started their teaching careers in Bertrand, Nebraska.

After her first year of teaching, Hilda gave birth to her son, James Lee Walker. After 3 years, they moved to San Jose, California to live with Hilda's parents while Wally attended San Jose State University to get his Master's Degree. At the end of that year, in 1951, Hilda gave birth to her daughter, Susan Jo Walker. Soon after, the family moved to Stockton where Wally taught history at Edison High School. After the children started school, Hilda applied for a job at Webster Junior High School where she taught typing and journalism for 37 years. She received numerous awards for her lifetime dedication and contributions to teaching, including the Lifetime Achievement Award for Scholastic Journalism from the Journalism Education Association. When Susan joined Job's Daughters International, Bethel 201 in Stockton, Hilda became active as an adult in the organization for over 50 years, serving as Guardian Director of Music, Bethel Guardian, Grand Chaplain, Deputy Grand Guardian, and Grand Guardian Secretary as well as regularly worked on the Job's Daughters Newspaper. She was also an active member in the Order of the Eastern Star, serving as Organist for Stockton Oaks Chapter 50 and Linden Chapter 372, and served as Grand Representative to Maryland in California 2013-2015.

Upon her retirement in 1991, Hilda started playing golf and took up several hobbies, including water aerobics and yoga. She was active in her Lady's Golf Club, the Fore Tee Niners, and played her last game of golf at 90 years old. Hilda was also an avid traveler, making numerous trips to the Czech Republic to visit family and traveling to Russia, Hong Kong, Brazil, Australia, Canada, and many places in between. Aligned with her generous spirit, she regularly donated blood, ultimately giving over 5 gallons in her lifetime, was involved in her local churches, and contributed to numerous charitable organizations. She was devoted to her family and shared her love of music, golf, travel, and reading with them. Her family also enjoyed the mouth-watering kolaches, a Czech pastry, that she baked for every holiday gathering from a secret family recipe. Hilda delighted in watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow, and reveled in their interests and accomplishments.

Hilda is survived by her son James and his wife Sherry of Lodi and by her brother Joe of Dallas, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents Anna and Joe Lola, her sister Amelia Reid, her ex-husband Wally Walker, her daughter Susan Jo Gibson, and her great-granddaughter Reagan Jo Gibson. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Paul Gibson and his wife Millie, Hilary Gibson and her fiancé Keith Bryson, Andrew Walker and his wife Monica, Bryan Walker and his wife Erin, and Joey Walker, as well as five great-grandchildren, Ryan and Rowen Gibson, Olivia Walker, and Jayden and Colton Walker.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton at 11:00am. There will be a Rosary Ceremony at 10:30am. Interment will be at the San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery immediately after services. Viewings will be at DeYoung Memorial Chapel in Stockton on Tuesday, March 2nd, and Wednesday, March 3rd, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. In leu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations in honor of Hilda be made to the California Job's Daughters Foundation. Contributions can be sent to the Grand Guardian Council at 303 W. Lincoln Avenue, Suite 210, Anaheim, CA 92805-2928. Memorial donations may also be made to First Tee of San Joaquin, a golf organization for youth, at www.FirstTeeSanJoaquin.org or by calling 209-559-1996.