Byron G. Walker

Byron G. Walker, was born son of Mr Lynn Walker and Olive Price in Pueblo CO February 23, 1936. He grew up in Minturn CO graduated from Minturn High School, in a class of 8, in 1955, the same year the steam locomotives were replaced with diesel and the Roundhouse in the railyard in Minturn was torn down. His first job was in the Minturn Icehouse, where blocks of ice frozen in winter were stored for use in home iceboxes in summer.

He attended Colorado School of mines in Golden CO studying engineering geology and engaged in an impressive list of activities: Society of American Military Engineers, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi honorary band, Mines Society of Engineering Geologists and American institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers. He was in the Advanced Reserve Officer Training Corps at the Colorado School of Mines with monthly pay of $29 and an issued uniform while he was in the ROTC program After graduation on May 22, 1959 and completion of six weeks of boot camp at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Engineers Corps, US Army Reserve.

He married his high school sweetheart Alice Marie Pierson at the church in Minturn December 26, 1959 and the young couple immediately departed as Byron began his US Army active duty service in Germany. Son Victor Lynn Walker was born February 2, 1961 in Heidelberg Germany. On August 19, 1962 Howard Andrew “Andy” Walker was born, the same year Vail Ski Area began operations. The Army would take Byron and family to Kansas, Missouri, Maryland, Virginia, Colorado, Alaska, New York and Byron served tours in Vietnam and Thailand. Byron received 5 medals of commendation including the Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone. Byron retired from Army service in 1980, helped build the first buildings at Solar Energy Research Institute (now NLR) in Golden, worked for Sullivan Hays property developer in Denver, and worked several years for the State of Colorado Department of Natural Resources, taking a Jeep to remote areas to inspect abandoned mines to ensure public health and safety.

Byron was an outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, camping and hiking, including taking his family up to the Dollie Mine up Bighorn Creek near Vail several times. With his boys he served as a Boy Scout leader and baseball coach. Annually he and Alice would take his grandchildren, Chris, Steven, Anna, Joshua, Alexander and Kirby for trailer camping that would always include fishing. Byron was a skier and he and Alice were members of the National Ski Patrol for 19 years, first at Pikes Peak and then at Cooper Hill near Leadville. Byron and Alice were very active in the Masons and Eastern Star, and served in leadership roles in Golden City Lodge Number 1. Byron lived the values of the Masons and helped a lot of people gain interest and advancement in the Masons.

Byron passed away May 16, 2026 at his home in Golden CO following an infection caused by kidney stones, and following treatment for heart problems and a broken hip bone. He was of good cheer, expecting to see Alice, and wishing the best for everyone.