Joanne Martin Walker

Though Joanne Walker loved writing, she was not one to sit still. Her passions for prayer, Bible study and Gods creation led her to volunteer work with organizations ranging from Neighborhood Bible Studies to the Arboretum Foundation.Joanne M. Walker died on April 5, 2011 at the Crista Nursing Center in Seattle, Washington. She was born to John B. and Elizabeth Martin on September 10, 1926 in Port Angeles, Washington. Her family moved to Portland, Oregon while she was in grade school and she later graduated from Grant High School, where she was active in school drama productions.Joanne received a B.A. in English from the University of Washington. She graduated magna cum laude in 1949. That August she married Bruce C. Walker, and they moved when he started graduate school in New York. She worked for Colliers Encyclopedia while Bruce completed his M.A. degree at Columbia University. After he graduated in 1951, they settled in Seattle.Joanne loved flowers and was a member and volunteer in the Seattle Arboretum Foundation for years. She was also active in the organization Neighborhood Bible Studies (formerly NBS, now Q Place) and helped start several Bible studies in Seattle and elsewhere in the state. As their website states, NBS recognized that many people would be interested in the Bible if they had an opportunity to discover what it said for themselves in a non-threatening small group setting. Many dozens of women still thank Joanne for helping them to discover what the Bible really says.Joanne also loved writing. She had several magazine articles published that reflected her strong faith in a God who cares about each person and each problem they face. Joanne and her husband Bruce have been members of University Presbyterian Church for nearly 60 years. Joanne taught Sunday school, wrote for the churchs newspaper and was an active leader in church prayer groups.Joanne was preceded in death by her dearly loved sister, Carol Gardner. She is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years, Bruce of Seattle; by her brother, J. Roger Martin of Portland, OR; by three sons, Doug of Wilmore, KY, Joel of Kaaawa, HI, and Marty of Sacramento, CA, as well as by six grandchildren, Bruce M. Walker of Kaaawa, HI; Noa Walker of Fort Stewart, GA, Naomi Walker, Kaaawa, HI; Vailima Walker, Kaaawa, HI; John B. Walker, Langley, BC, Kevin Walker, Lexington, KY, and two great grandchildren, Lily Rose Walker of Lexington, KY and Noa Walker, Jr. of Fort Stewart, GA. Announcement: Memorial gifts may be directed to the ministries of University Presbyterian Church.