George Alexander Walker

GEORGE A. WALKER, WELL-KNOWN AUCTIONEER, DEAD

George A. Walker, 41 years old, well-known rancher and auctioneer of Niobrara county, died at the Lusk Hospital at 4:20 o'clock last Sunday morning, March 31, from the effects of lobar pneumonia, which had been aggravated by dust inhaled from the severe dust storms which had been ranging in the West for the past few weeks.

An ex-service man who had been gassed in the world war, his lungs were in weakened condition which made him susceptible to pneumonia.

Mr. Walker had been at the hospital under treatment about a week, but few of his friends in Lusk knew he was seriously ill and his death came as a distinct shock to a host of warm personal friends.

A military funeral was held in Lusk Monday, interment being made in the Lusk Cemetery, arrangements being in charge of the Peet Mortuary, Rev. R. F. Farrar officiated at services held at the Baptist Church.

The pallbearers were all ex-service men, being Thos. O. Miller, Walter M. Gregory, Frank W. Chambers, Glen Cates, A.B. Mills and E. Floyd Deuel.

Other officers participating in the military funeral were: Frank A. Barrett, commanding officer; L. G. McKinnis and Theo. Mantel, color bearers; C. E. Marvin, corporal of the firing squad; Bud Butler and Roy Maguire, color guard; Otto Klemke, bugler; Pat Costlow, chaplain. The firing squad was composed of George Gibson, Don Taylor, Arthur Vogel and R. A. Faulk.

A mixed quartet composed of Ford B. Kuns, Mrs. H.J. Templeton, Mrs. DeCastro and Mr. Hungate rendered appropriate musical numbers at the church services.

Many friends and relatives of deceased from out of the State were in attendance at the funeral services. Among these were Verne Peters, John Weare, Robert Coleman and Elbridge Wills, all of Marsland, Neb., and Ernest Peters of Hot Springs, S. D. Thomas and Robert Walker of Bayard, Neb., and Will Walker of Morrill, Neb., brothers of the deceased, were also here for the services.

George A. Walker had been a resident of the Bright community for many years, and was a graduate auctioneer, and had recently had several sales in the county. He was well known and popular, and his untimely death will be genuinely mourned by a large circle of friends.

GEORGE ALEXANDER WALKER
George Alexander Walker was born on October 7, 1893, at Castilia, South Dakota, the ninth child of Lewis and Mary Walker. He passed away at the Lusk Hospital, Lusk, Wyoming, at 4:20 a.m., Sunday, March 31, 1935, having attained the age of 41 years, 5 months and 24 days. Death was due to double lobar pneumonia, super induced by dust inhaled during the recent severe dust storms that have swept this region. A victim of poisonous gas during the World War, Mr. Walker's condition was such that he was susceptible to lung trouble.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Doris C. Walker; two sons, George Merlyn, aged 11 years; Ralph Russell, 6 years; Mary Lola, 9 years and Fay Alice, 3 years; his mother, Mrs. Mary Walker; six brothers, Thomas and Robert of Bayard, Neb.; William of Morrill, Neb.; Lewis of Martin, South Dakota; Lester of Meredosia, Illinois, and Delbert of Lusk. Two sisters, Mrs. Bertha Smith of Martinez, California, and Mrs. Mary Whalen of Tyndall, South Dakota, also survive him. He was preceded in death by his father, two sisters, Adeline and Carrie, and two brothers, Edward and James, the latter drowning in an accident near Sandusky, Ohio, after he returned from serving almost two years with the Navy during the World War.

His early life was spent in Castilia and Kimball, South Dakota, where he received the beginnings of his education in the public schools. In 1910 the family moved to Marsland, Neb., where he continued his schooling.

In 1918, April 29th, George Walker was united in marriage to Miss Doris C. Peters of Tyndall, South Dakota, shortly thereafter enlisting in the service of his country for the duration of the war. He was mustered in at Camp Funston, Kansas, and later was sent to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he was assigned to the 313th Supply Train, 88th Division. He shipped for overseas August 24, 1919 and served in the Hante-Alsace sector, where he became a victim of a German gas attack. It was on June 3, 1919, that he was returned to the United States.

Remaining for a time in the vicinity of his old home, Mr. and Mrs. Walker moved to this State, homesteading near Bright (formerly Warren), in April, 1921. There Mr. Walker engaged in farming and ranching and has since resided. Mr. Walker was also a graduate auctioneer and practiced whenever occasion arose and opportunity offered. The four children were born on this ranch.

For a number of years Mr. Walker was actively affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was also a member of the Derk J. Wieten Post No. 4, American Legion. He was a man of strong convictions that caused him to be outspoken and positive. He was a hard working man and generous to a fault, often sacrificing to help others. While not a member of any church, nevertheless he was a believer in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, and habitually was a man of prayer during the last months, when he seemed to divine the approaching end.

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