Gwendolyn Y Walker

Walker, Gwendolyn Yvonne age 85, died peacefully surrounded by family on August 1 2012, at Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Weston, Massachusetts. Gwen was born February 6, 1927 in Denison, Texas, the daughter of Dewitt Herbert Loomis and Kathryn Jeanette (Hyde) Loomis. Gwen attended the American School in Mexico and graduated from Denison High School. She attended George Washington University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in economics. In 1950, Gwen married Paul Howard Walker, a Washington attorney and resided in the Washington, DC area for many years. From 1950 to 1952 Gwen was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as an economist. Upon the birth of her first child, Michael, she left the CIA to raise her children including their daughter Melinda born in 1954. In 1968 the family moved to Brookline, Massachusetts, where her late husband Paul was Tax Counsel to New England Life. Gwen was devoted to the Lord and was a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Newton, Massachusetts. Gwen had a passion for the Lord, history, art, music and her family. She participated in various historical societies that included the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), past Regent of the Hannah Goddard Chapter, DAR, and the National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims. Even with all of these activities she still found time to manage the gift shop at the Tufts New England Medical Center. As an accomplished artist, she was a member of the Copley Society and many of her works have been displayed in venues throughout Boston. She wrote poetry and several of her poems have been published. She loved the outdoors and camped extensively with her family across the United States and Canada. Gwen is survived by two children, Michael DeWitt Walker of Rockville, Maryland, Melinda Kathryn Zelenkov of Bolton Massachusetts and three grandchildren: Reid Andrew Walker, Elizabeth Austin Walker and Anna Clare Walker. She is predeceased by Paul Walker her husband of 55 years. A memorial service for Gwen Walker will be held at Sunrise Assisted Living Center, 135 North Road, Weston, MA at 10:30AM Friday, August 3. The funeral will be held at Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, 28 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA, on August 4 at 10:00 AM followed by a reception in the Friary Room. Rather than flowers, the family suggests that donations in memory of Mrs. Walker be made to “The Sunrise Good Samaritan Fund”, 7900 Westpark Drive, McLean, Virginia, 22102.