Lloyd E. Walker

Lloyd E. Walker, 95, of East Peoria, passed away at 11:55 pm Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at Heartland of Riverview in East Peoria. He was born Aug. 22, 1920 in McLeansboro, IL to Lawrence and Martha Bicknell Walker. He married Wanda Bennett on Jan. 23, 1943 in Palmyra, MO. She survives. Also surviving are 2 children, Terry (Rebecca) Walker of Groveland, IL, Connie (James) Eaton of Hope, IN; 4 grandchildren, Todd (Lori) Walker of Broomfield, CO, Brett (Lisa) Walker of Gig Harbor, WA, Shana (Mike Evett) Eaton of Arlington, VA, Brad (Molly) Eaton of Dayton, OH; 8 great-grandchildren, Cole, Quinn and Kate Walker of Broomfield, CO, Hannah and Caleb Walker of Gig Harbor, WA, Alice Evett of Arlington, VA, and Harper and Morgan Eaton of Dayton, OH. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Lowell and Ralph; and sisters, Ruth and Jenny. Lloyd left his small southern Illinois farm home after high school graduation in 1938 to seek employment at Caterpillar Inc. in East Peoria. At Caterpillar he graduated from the apprentice program, performed production labor functions and precision machining in the Research Department and retired from an Industrial Engineering position after 44 years of service. His service to Caterpillar was interrupted by his US Army service in the Philippine Islands during WWII. In the 1960’s Lloyd along with other fathers formed Boy Scout Troop 146 at Lincoln School in East Peoria. He served as the Scoutmaster and mentored at least one Eagle Scout. In 1975 Lloyd and Wanda bought their first of 2 motor homes in which they spent 30 years traveling the United States and Canada with their friends in the Good Sams, Holiday Rambler, and Carriage RV travel clubs. They frequently provided their personal services and the use of their motor home in support of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics. Lloyd enjoyed working on his home and yard, gardening and was a skilled woodworker. Although educationally qualified he was financially unable to attend college but made sure that his children obtained their college degrees. He was especially proud of the fact that all of his grandchildren have obtained post graduate college degrees. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. The family wishes to thank the staff, nurses and doctors at Bickford House-Mary B’s, Unitypoint Health Methodist Medical Center, Heartland of Riverview and Unitypoint Health Hospice for skillfully and compassionately working to make Lloyd’s final years as enjoyable as possible. His funeral service will be at 11 am Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in East Peoria with Rev. Bill Cordes officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home on Tuesday. Burial will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.

Lloyd E. Walker

August 22, 1920 - June 15, 2016