Irving P. Walker

Irving Walker was born in Great Falls Montana in 1920 but moved to Winter Garden at the age of five and grew up in Winter Garden. He attended Lakeview High School where he played on the football team and graduated in 1938. After high school he and his brother, Floyd, moved to Georgia where they were employed by the Bluebird Bus Company from 1938 to 1940. Irving then moved to Baltimore, MD and joined the Glenn L. Martin Company (later to become Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin).

Upon the United States’ entry into WWII he had the opportunity to join a team of technicians formed by the Glenn L. Martin Company to set up aircraft assembly and repair depots to serve the U.S. Air Corps and allied aircraft. His first assignment was North Africa as this was the time that German forces were trying to gain control of the Straits of Gibraltar. After the defeat of German forces in North Africa the team was assigned to the Persian Gulf region to assemble and service American aircraft to be sent to Russia.

This job being completed the team moved to India. The team was part of a secret manufacturing operation arranged by President Roosevelt and the Douglas Aircraft Company (later know as McDonnell Douglas) became involved. The purpose of the Indian operation was to help China, Burma, and India defend themselves against Japan.

Upon his return to the states in 1946 he was drafted into the Army Air Corps. As the war was over he received an honorable discharge within a few months. Also In 1946 the most important event of his life happened. He met Martha Thomas of Maitland. They were married in 1947 and had three children, John, Tom, and Linda. After sixty years of marriage Martha passed in 2007.

In 1947 Irving and his brother Floyd began manufacturing metal awnings. Metal awnings were used on almost every home in the days before air conditioning. Eventually they decided to diversify and began pre-fabricating kitchen cabinets. Most cabinets in those days were sight built but pre-fabrication of cabinets became the norm. Over the years as the business progressed, kitchen cabinets were no longer produced as commercial casework and architectural millwork replaced that product line.

In the early 70’s Irving purchased Floyd’s interest in the business. The two of them had started in a 1200 square foot building and by 1980 had grown to a 38,000 square foot state of the art operation. In 1977, John and later Tom, joined the company full time. By 1983 Irving started easing into retirement and in 1985 officially retired. He and Martha enjoyed traveling and spending time at their condo in New Smyrna Beach. In his earlier years Irving fished at every opportunity but in his retirement his passion became working in his yard and his home. Anyone who has ever visited his home can attest to his accomplishments.

Irving is survived by all three children, six grandchildren, and five great grandchildren who will miss him terribly.

A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Winter Garden at 10 A.M. on Aug. 27 followed by a reception for family and friends. Arrangements under the direction of Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden, FL.