MEMORY OF E. B. WALKER

Stores Are Closed During Funeral in
Appreciation of Service Given City
by Former School Superintendent,
Who Followed Teaching Profession
for Forty Years

Tribute to the memory of Puyallup's most beloved public servant was
paid Thursday afternoon when practically all business in the city was
sus-pended during the funeral service for E. B. Walker, former school 
superintendent, who died Tuesday morning at the family home near 
Burley.

The colors flying on the staff at Victory Hall and in the park remained
at half mast.  Upon recommendation of the Board of trustees of the Mer-
chants Association, nearly every store was closed from 1 to 2 o'clock,
and representatives of these firms attended the funeral in the Methodist
Church.  Rev. E. E. Brace officiated.

Because of failing health, Mr. Walker resigned a year ago as superin-
tendent of schools after having served in that capacity for 12 years.
His retirement to a chicken ranch near Burley marked the close of 
forty years of service as a teacher and educator.

Mr. Walker was 60 yars old.  He was born April 8, 1861, near Salem,
Ind.  He was a graduate of the Washington, Indiana, Normal school 
and the New Albany Business college.  At the age of 19, he began 
teaching in Indiana.  That was in 1880. Eight of the first nine years he 
taught were spent in rural district schools.  Later he served for 14 
years in New Albany, Ind., where he was principal of one of the 
largest grammar schools.

He then came to Puyallup and was principal of the Spinning School.  
At the end of a year he went to Auburn, where he was principal for 
four years.  Thirteen years ago he returned to Puyallup and served 
as superintendent until last year.

Mr. Walker was superintendent also of the Methodist Sunday School 
for many years, an active member of the Commercial Club and a 
member of the I. O. O. F. lodge and Modern Woodmen of America.  
He took a keen interest in all movements of civic interest, especially
if it meant a betterment of the schools.  He sponsored the
movement for the building of the Puyallup High School in 1912
and the new Junior High school addition in 1920.

At the time of his resignation, Mr. Walker made the following
stament to The Tribune . . . .
"It is a great satisfaction to find before retiring that the people are
beginning to look upon teachers as human; that we can eat and try
to live very much like other workers.  And in recognition of this fact,
the public is demanding that teachers be paid in return for the
services they render.  It looks as if the teachers at last are about to
receive fairly good salaries.

It was not so long ago that it was generally understood that
anyone choosing to become a teacher or preacher was not expected
to receive much remuneration; his services were to be offered as a
sacrifice; his pay was to be in the form of personal glory from
moulding the minds of children

Today, however, the people realize that teachers are entitled to
fair pay just like any other worker.  It is a great satisfaction to
know your services are worth while and are appreciated."

Showing the high esteem and respect in which his memory is held by
the students of the Puyallup schools, severl cups and tablets have
been dedicated to his name.  The last of the honor tablets was the
E. B. Walker Bronze Tablet, deciated to the school by the class of
1920.  The inscription, "Whose Life was Dedicated to the Noblest
Ideals," is said to express the sentiment of the entire school.
C. M. Case also presented a Walker honor cup to the school.

Members of the family were at his bedside at the time of death.
those who survive besides his widow, Mrs. Nancy J. Walker,  are
three daughters, Mrs. Dora C. Hilen of Seattle, Mrs. Anna Bell
Boyd of Olalla, and Mrs. Maud Jacobs of this city; three brothers,
George M. Walker of Puyallup, William A. Walker of South
Boston, Ind., and Louis H. Walker of New Albany, Ind.

The choir of the Methodist church, of which Mr. Walker was a
member, sang at the church service.  Pallbearers were Charles Hood,
G. D. Edgerton, John King, Sr., Charles Robertson, C. A. Kent,
Tom Desmond of Tacoma, Robert Montgomery, Mayor S. R. Gray,
 B. F. Jacobs, Prof. Stanley of Central School, Tacoma, and
Judge Knickerbocker of Auburn.

Entombment was made in the Tacoma mausoleum under the
direction of Spurr-Dunlap & Co.  The Odd Fellows had charge
of the services at the mausoleum.

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Copyright© by Antoinette, February 28, 1999