Nicole Walker was born in Longwy, France on July 7, 1933 to Albert and Gabrielle Biver. Her brothers Robert and Jean and her sister, Lucette welcomed Nicole into her new family. The Bivers lived in Gandrange, Lorraine in the east of France.
In 1939 war was declared when the family was in Provence where they stayed until the end of the WWII. Then Nicole’s family returned to Gandrange, she attended a Catholic boarding school. She later studied in England. Upon Nicole’s return she started working at the American Army base in Metz, France where she met her husband to be, Freeman(Bud) G. Walker of Manter Kansas who was a MP at this base while at a dance, their eyes met…
When Bud finished his tour in France he returned to Kansas. They kept in contact. Nicole moved to America where she worked in the French Consult in New York City. Bud made a trip to see Nicole, and brought her to Kansas.
In September, 1961, Nicole and Freeman G Walker were married in Syracuse, Kansas. They made a home in Manter, Kansas. Together they were blessed with a baby girl a year after, Veronique Gabrielle Walker, and later they welcomed their grandson Julien Alexandre Walker.
Throughout her lifetime, Nicole made numerous friends, whether it was at work, school, retreats or church. We said Nicole collected friends like some people collected stamps. Oklahoma City was to be the permanent home. Nicole worked as an interpreter for Michelin tires. She attended Oklahoma University and graduated with honors. She taught French in several schools, colleges, and universities in Oklahoma City. Nicole taught French at OCCC, Heritage Hall , Westminster School, Southern Nazarene School, OSSM, and Rose State College. Nicole taught until she was 78 years old. Even then she did not intend to retire, but health issues arose. Nicole’s church played an important role in her everyday life. Nicole attended bible study each week, went on retreats with friends. She and Bud became good friends with Father Pruett and many others.
Nicole Walker born the 7th of July 1933 died December 11, 2019, at her home with her family at her bedside was preceded in death by her husband Bud, her parents, Gabrielle and Albert Biver, her brothers and their wives, Robert and Mané Biver, Jean and Germain Biver, her sister and husband, Lucette and Michel Guillaume. Nicole leaves behind her daughter Veronique and grandson Julien Alexandre, her sisters-in-law Ellen Walcher(Ernest), Beth Anne Devers(Darrell), and Linda Lee Donati(Emanuel) and many nieces and nephews and their children, who loved her dearly and will miss her.
A scholarship has been established for students of French at OCCC in her name to honor Nicole’s decades of dedication to teaching French at OCCC.
