Walker, Eunice “Bootsie”

29 Apr Walker, Eunice “Bootsie”

Mrs. Eunice Emily Walker, aged 93, departed this life peacefully in her sleep on the morning of Thursday, December 28, 2017 at her home, Mendelssohn Terrace in Browningsville, Maryland. Mrs. Walker was the beloved wife of the late Mr. Stewart Eugene Day Walker, Sr. for 51 years.

Mrs. Walker was born on September 22, 1924 in Radnor, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late John Ardolph Burdette and Margretha Johanna Janssen Burdette. Mrs. Walker grew-up on Radnor Way in Radnor, Pennsylvania on the Main Line. Her Uncle Hamilton Burdette gave her the nickname, “Bootsie” by which she was known by family and friends throughout her life. She attended Radnor Grammar School, Radnor Junior High School, and Radnor High School. She took riding lessons and violin lessons as a child. During her youth, Mrs. Walker was a member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Radnor, receiving her baptism, first communion, and confirmation at St. Martin’s. 

At the age of 12, her father died unexpectedly and she lived for a time with her Uncle Edward and Aunt Inez Burdette on their farm near Browningsville, Maryland. She attended Damascus High School briefly in 1937 and then returned to Radnor, Pennsylvania to continue her education. She continued to visit her aunt and uncle at the Burdette Farm during the summers, and met Stewart E. D. Walker during the summer of 1940. During the summer of 1941, the couple were engaged, and married on August 20th at the Bethesda Methodist Episcopal Church parsonage in Clarksburg, Maryland. She later joined Bethesda Methodist Episcopal Church in Browningsville and became active in the service of the church. The couple lived at Mendelssohn Terrace, the ancestral home of Stewart Walker, immediately following their marriage in 1941. 

They both worked together in building a successful dairy farm with registered Holstein cattle. Mrs. Walker was a life-long homemaker, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Mrs. Walker enjoyed tennis, sewing, reading, and travel. Later in life, she enjoyed many wonderful trips to Aruba and Florida with her late husband. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mrs. Walker was an avid Washington Redskins and Baltimore Orioles fan. 

Mrs. Walker was a life-long member of the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair and was a member of a number of other agricultural related organizations. She enjoyed volunteering with her late husband supporting the work of the Damascus Lions Club and the American Red Cross blood drives.

Mrs. Walker was predeceased by two sisters, Matilda Burdette Simpson and Laura Burdette Gerber. Mrs. Walker is survived by both of her sons, Stewart E. “Buddy” Walker and wife, Patricia B. Walker; Darryl W. Walker and wife, Patricia A. Walker; and one sister-in-law, Phyllis S. Walker, all of Damascus. She is also survived by one niece, two nephews, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.