Boots Walker

Boots Reynolds Walker passed gently from this world in her sleep on June 14, 2020. She was born in Oregonia, OH on March 24, 1938 to Eli and Mattie Spencer Reynolds. On July 6, 1957 she married her high school sweetheart John Albert Walker of Harveysburg, OH. During their 62-year marriage, they lived in Waynesville and Kettering, OH followed by Terre Haute, IN. After a move to California in 1974, they lived in Woodland Hills, Anaheim Hills, San Marcos, Yorba Linda, and Trilogy in Glen Ivy, until her final move to assisted living in Placentia. In addition to her beloved husband, Boots is survived by her children John Michael (Cyd) Walker, Saugus, CA; Christopher Walker, Garden Grove, CA; David (Crystal) Walker, New Castle, DE and Melissa (Rod) Carpenter, Orange, CA, along with grandchildren, John Andrew, Kaitlin, Adam and Alec Walker, and Joshua and Justin Carpenter. Boots is also survived by sisters Ivalene Kingan, of Waynesville, OH, and Peggy (Marcus) Ramsey, Senoia, GA. She was preceded in death by brothers Warren Reynolds, Oregonia, OH; Acy Reynolds, Franklin, OH; William Reynolds, Ocala, FL; Fred Reynolds, Fraser, MI; and sisters Sharon Barker, Springboro, OH; Marjorie Welch, Waynesville, OH; Grace Gibson, Clearwater, FL; and Frances Lamb, Waynesville, OH.

After graduating from Waynesville High School, Boots worked as an executive assistant for a general at Gentile Air Force Station in Kettering, OH. In Woodland Hills Boots sold real estate. Later she studied painting at Fullerton College. She went on to study art history and became head of the docents at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. Boots was a member of the Assistance League in both Orange and San Diego Counties. As part of the Art Angel outreach, she taught art projects and took supplies to underserved populations including women’s shelters.

While in Orange County, Boots was a member of Yorba Linda United Methodist Church. In Riverside County she attended Corona United Methodist Church. She served as an ambassador on the Trilogy Committee and helped to form and served on the Coldwater Sunshine Committee to assist families during times of illness. She also volunteered at the Kaiser Anaheim Lakeview Hospital Gift Shop.

Despite a 40-year battle with rheumatoid arthritis, Boots enjoyed travel and visited Venice, Monaco, Paris, London, Brussels, Munich and Vatican City, including the Sistine Chapel. She and John also toured Australia and New Zealand. Her favorite place on earth was Kauai.

As a homemaker Boots had an eye for color and design and had the rare gift of creating a home that was both photo-shoot ready and welcoming.

She also was fortunate enough to have “always hated” and “intended to replace anyway” anything her grandchildren broke. Boots was always all in for whatever was important to children and grandchildren, including becoming a Girl Scout leader and president of the Southern California Naval Academy Parents’ Club. She could be counted on to attend recitals, games, concerts and tournaments. She was much loved.

On Wednesday she will be laid to rest in a private service at Fairhaven Memorial Park, Santa Ana.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Arthritis Foundation.