Mildred Katherine (Cooper) Walker was born February 27, 1912, the daughter of Harmon G. and Grace M. (Meyerkorth) Cooper. She grew up on a farm three miles south of Rock Port and attended West Bend Country School. Her father died when she was 5 years old. She attended Rock Port High School one semester until difficult times caused her to seek employment working for Dr. Jack Slack and other families in the Rock Port area. Perhaps this is why she was an immaculate housekeeper and excellent cook. Her Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners will long be remembered by children and grandchildren, especially her homemade noodles, peanut butter cookies and pies. She made pies until her early 80’s and Friday was “pie day” where we would eat one of her delicious pies and visit. She liked to sew (especially aprons) and embroidery in her earlier years.

On August 29, 1931, she married Arville Olin Walker at the Lutheran Church parsonage in Rock Port. They lived their early married years in Langdon, Missouri until 1943, where Mildred was a homemaker and led her three young children to Christ at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. After living in Omaha, Nebraska three years during World War II, they returned to Rock Port in 1946, where she resided to this day.

She was a member of First Lutheran Church, past member of Lutheran Women’s Circle, charter member of Peg A Way Extension Club, and Ladies Association of Hunter Cemetery. She volunteered many years for church and extension activities and served as Election Judge several years. Mildred was devoted to her family and home, and was very proud of her children and grandchildren, showing her love in many ways. After her family was raised, she loved to travel, go to horse races with “Doc” in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska and Hot Springs, Arkansas and continued to cook and sew for her family on occasion.

Survivors include her children, Shirley L. Barnhart True and husband, Jerry True, Kenneth K. Walker and wife, Patricia, Rock Port, Jeanne Garst, Watson, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Joni Sapp, Jill Niece, Jeffrey Walker, Michael Walker, Cynthia Burton, Tammy Canida, Garry Garst, Melinda Hunsberger and two step grandchildren, Beth True and Ted True; seven great grandchildren, five step great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren, a sister, Fern Rogers, Rock Port, and nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Arville “Doc” Walker on February 4, 1999, step father Ike Vernon, sons-in-law, A. J. Barnhart and Richard “Dick” Garst, half brothers, Harry J. Cooper and Clarence G. Cooper, half sister, Rosa J. Rosenbohm, sisters, Hannah E. Bressler, Heibe G. May and Helen G. Pollock.

Funeral Services were held Friday, September 22, 2006 at 2:00 P.M., First Lutheran Church, Rock Port with interment at Hunter Cemetery, Rock Port. The family received friends one hour prior to the funeral from 1:00 P.M. to 1:45 P.M. at First Lutheran Church. Memorials may be directed to the: First Lutheran Church or Hunter Cemetery Association