WALKER Laurence

Professor Emeritus 1938-2013 It is with great sadness the family announces that Dr. Laurence (Laurie) Walker of Lethbridge passed away at 74 years of age on March 12, 2013, at the Chinook Regional Hospital.

A celebration of life service will be held at the Galt Museum in Lethbridge on Sunday June 9, 2013 at 11:00 am. There is no funeral service upon request. Laurence is survived by his wife of 46 years, Hilda, of Lethbridge; their daughters Gillian (Robert) Walker-Tufts of Calgary, Alberta, Jennifer (Ron) Walker-Larsen of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Stephanie (Robert) Sedgwick of Windsor, Nova Scotia; his sister Ethel (Alan) Grateley of Exeter, England; his grandchildren Sarah, Emma, Alexis, Joshua, Dawson, and Ruth; his nieces and nephews, cousins and other relatives. Laurie was born in Penrith, England to Leonard and Edith (Brown) Walker on December 18, 1938. He attended Carlisle Grammar School in England and went on to Durham University for a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Modern History. He answered the teacher’s calling soon after, with a Certificate of Education from Nottingham University in 1962. Laurie always had a strong desire to experience new places, and in 1964 he emigrated to Canada where he completed his Bachelor of Education at the University of Alberta. He taught first at Grand Centre High School, and then at King Edward Junior High School in Edmonton where he met a young teacher named Hilda — they were married in 1966. A true scholar, Laurie obtained a Master’s degree in 1968 and then went on to get a PhD in Education from the University of Alberta in 1973. Laurie had a vision for how teachers could best be trained and worked throughout his career to teach students and develop programs.  He taught at Memorial University in St John’s (Newfoundland), Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax (Nova Scotia), and finally the University of Lethbridge where he also served as Associate Vice-President (Academic) and then Dean of Education. Laurie was always planning his next great adventure and usually chose the road less travelled. Not content to simply travel as a ‘tourist’, he jumped at opportunities to immerse himself in other places and cultures. Laurie was also a gifted athlete and fierce contender on many a cricket pitch, tennis court, and squash court across England and Canada. He had a strong love of nature and the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, canoeing, and cross-country skiing. Never one to merely amble, Laurie was tough to keep up with on many of his ‘brisk’ walks with the dogs in the coulees, around Gyro Park, or on his daily walk or bike commute to the University. He will be dearly missed and never forgotten. In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully accepted in Laurie’s memory to the Nature Conservancy of Canada: www.natureconservancy.ca. Special thanks to the many friends and colleagues who supported him. The family also greatly appreciates the excellent care provided by staff at the Chinook Regional Hospital.