PUYALLUP PAYS TRIBUTE TO
MEMORY OF E. B. WALKER
(died July 20, 1921)

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 suspended 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 Merchants 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 superintendent 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 years 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 statement 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 molding 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, several cups and tablets have been dedicated to his name. The last of the honor tablets was the E. B. Walker Bronze Tablet, dedicated 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.

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR E. B. WALKER
Former Head of Puyallup Schools Buried on Thursday

By Staff Correspondent

Puyallup. July 27, 1921 --- Funeral services for Edmund B. Walker, former superintendent of schools at Puyallup, who died early yesterday morning at his home in Olalla, at the head of Henderson bay, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 1 o'clock in the First Methodist church, Rev. E. E. Brace officiating.

Charles Hood, G. D. Edgerton, John King, Charles Robertson, Charles Johnson and Lucian Dean have been selected to serve as pallbearers. Thomas Desmond of Tacoma, Robert Montgomery, Mayor Steve R. Gray, Judge Knickerbocker of Auburn, C. M. Case and C. A. Kent have been named as honorary pallbearers. The choir of the Methodist church will sing at the services.

Burial will be in the Tacoma mausoleum. The Puyallup I.O.O.F. lodge, of which Mr. Walker was a member, will have charge of the services at the mausoleum.

The body was brought to Puyallup last night by Paul Wigley of the Spurr-Dunlap company. It will lie in state in the Spurr-Dunlap chapel tomorrow morning from i 8ntil 12 o'clock, in accordance with the deceased wishes, and the casket will not be opened during the services.

Mr. Walker was 60 years old, at the time of his death. He was born near Salem, Ind., and was a strict Hoosier up until 1903. At that time he became superintendent of the Auburn, Wash., schools. Four years later he took the same position in Puyallup, continuing until ill-health caused his resignation two years ago.

The reverence in which he was held by those students under him is recounted in the number of honor cups and tablets, put up for student competition, bearing his name in their title.

He took a lead in church and civic affairs, and was a member of the Modern Woodmen. He eas largely responsible for the improvements in the high school buildings. He was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school for many years. He leaves a wife, Mrs. Nancy J. Walker; three daughters, Mrs. Dora C. Hillen of Seattle, Mrs. Anna Belle Boyd of Olalla and Mrs. Maude Jacobs of Puyallup; and three brothers, William A. Walker of South Boston, Ind., Lewis H. Walker of New Albany, Ind., and George M. Walker of Puyallup.

Relatives of the deceased are staying at the Jacobs home on 6th street S. W.
 

EDMOND B. WALKER - In Memoriam
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Before disease laid its hand upon him in the spring of 1919, he had for eleven years been superintendent of the schools of this city. Since that time, he lived on his beautiful little farm on the shores of Puget Sound, near Olalla. The malady which had seized his large, fine frame made fast encroachments upon his vital spark; yet bravely he battled to the end - and murmured not. Since early manhood his life was occupied in, and dedicated to, the profession of teaching. He had a broad, sound education, coupled with executive ability of a high order. He possessed also a rare dignity of manhood and of character. The schools of Puyallup under his superintendency grew steadily in efficiency until none anywhere in the Northwest excelled them, either in equipment or in the quality of the training therein imparted.

His name is Edmond B. Walker. He went away last Tuesday, but he did not die; his spirit is here this minute and is near the author of this page, looking on with the utmost friendliness and good nature, just as for many years it had been his wont to "drop in" on his way to the High School for a little chat with the editor. His interest in all civic, economic, educational and political questions was very keen, and he was an intelligent interpreter of events and of situations. Always he had a view of his own; yet always, too, he was charitable towards those who differed from him in opinion. That quality arose out of his broadness of mind and out of his kindness of heart. Kindness was indeed the outstanding trait of his nature. And, after all, is not kindness the highest expression of intelligence? Does it not embody all of culture and refinement and wisdom? Kindness is the outspoken expression of Love -- and Love is the greatest thing in the world. So Professor Walker was kind; and that was the finest distinction he could have had. He loved children, and, he loved also to help his students and to talk to them and to get them interested in the things that would do them good. And that is why they loved him and bestowed up him many token of appreciation and affection. Love begets love. The world may indeed esteem a man for one or for many qualities of mind; but if he is not a lover, he will not be himself by others loved. Love begins with love; and is not of the mind but of the heart.

The editor of The Tribune does the memory of Professor no honor, because he cannot do that; but the privilege of writing these lines does the editor of The Tribune honor, and he does it with a heart full of gratitude, for having been permitted for many years intimately to know Professor Walker and to count him as his friend. It is a blessing to possess, or ever to have had, the friendship of a strong, sincere and noble man -- a man of just spirit and of kindly heart. Where this friend has gone the world's best, gone before, must welcome him as a fit fellow in the bright, busy and eternal day.