Richard Craig Walker

Rich was born on April 27, 1947, to Harold and Alice Walker in Indianapolis, Indiana. He grew up in Knightstown, IN. The Walker family moved to Bellevue, WA when Rich was eleven years old.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts and Teaching Certificate from Seattle Pacific University, and a Master of Arts from Pacific Lutheran University.

Rich was a teacher for 42 years, with the bulk of his career working with 4th and 5th graders at Woodland Elementary in Lacey, WA. In the early 1970s, he worked in the Division of Child Psychiatry at the University of Washington, Seattle, and taught at the International School in Yemen.

He was an adjunct professor for Seattle Pacific University, and a mentor for many student teachers. A highlight of receiving his Principal’s credentials was completing the Leadership Institute at Harvard Graduate School of Education. He taught other teachers courses in classroom management and communication. Rich loved teaching – and he often remarked there were fewer than five days in 42 years that he did not look forward to going to work.

Besides being passionate about teaching, Rich was an avid fan of Drum Corps International (DCI), drumming and all kinds of music, beautiful movies, poetry and photography. He loved to read and browse in his favorite bookstores – finding books for himself and giving books as gifts to others.

Rich is survived by his wife, Susan Elhardt; children Allison Walker Wilson (Rick) of Olympia, WA, Ethan Walker (Megan) of Seattle, WA, Erin Nickellstage (Bryan) of Durham, NC; stepchildren Mark Biscay (Lisa) of Olympia, WA and Michele Neary (Patrick) of Portland, OR; grandchildren Max and Sara Wilson, Emmett and Owen Walker, Jake and Ryder Biscay, and a grandson on the way, Obie Nickellstage; and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Arthur Walker.

A special thank-you for the kindness and compassion of the healthcare professionals who cared for and comforted Rich over the past year. As Rich wrote: “your presence in my life resulted in an enduring state of gratitude. You are now yet another piece of evidence that I am the luckiest person you may ever meet.”

Please consider making a donation in Rich’s memory to the Friends of Drum Corps International (www.dci.org), National Public Radio (www.npr.org), or Olympia Animal Services (jointanimalservices.org).