Leland Grant Walker

Anchorage Daily News
Published: February 15, 2006

 

 

Longtime Anchorage resident Leland Grant Walker, 72, died Feb. 2, 2006, at Providence Alaska Medical Center of acute myeloid leukemia.

His family wrote, "Dad's eight-month battle with leukemia took him to the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Ore., in June 2005. Mom was by his side 24 hours a day for more than seven months while he underwent the bone marrow transplant process. After a brief period of good health, the leukemia returned and doctors fought to put him back in remission, which didn't happen. His last wish was to return home to Anchorage, which he did the day before he died."

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Anchorage Lutheran Church, 1420 N St. Pastor Bill Warren of Anchorage and Pastor Orlie Trier of Portland will officiate.

Mr. Walker was born June 24, 1933, in Pueblo, Colo., to Grant Emmet and Mildred (Davis) Walker. He was reared in Denver and graduated from the University of Denver in 1955, when he also received his commission in the U.S. Air Force. He was a 20-year Air Force officer, flew various types of military aircraft, and commanded C-130 crews during his last 14 years on active duty. He flew more than 8,000 hours, many in Vietnam. In March 1964, he flew airlift relief to Alaska after the Good Friday earthquake. He fell in love with the beauty of Alaska, vowing to be assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base. In 1969, he moved his family to Anchorage.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1976, he became a real estate agent and, later, an associate broker. He worked in Anchorage and Eagle River, retiring from Realty Executives Alaska three days before departing for Portland.

For 10 years, he was active in the Scenic Foothills Community Council. He was elected president in May 2005.

"He was well respected by many in the business community and will be greatly missed by all who knew him," family said.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Renada Walker; daughter and family, Gail, Terry and Connor Kurth; son and family, Mark, Rebecca, Alexandra, Daniel, and two late-comers (posthumously), Grant Isaac and Analiese Walker; sister, Phyllis Walker Hodgson; and his Dalmatian, Treska.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested for Anchorage Lutheran Church's Leland G. Walker Memorial Fund or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Arrangements are with Evergreen Memorial Chapel.