William "Bill" Gilbert Walker

William “Bill” G. Walker, 73, of Placerville, California, passed away from natural causes at his home on September 4, 2025.

Born on July 27, 1952, in Connecticut, Bill built a life defined by hard work, loyalty, and quiet kindness. He spent his career with the U.S. Forest Service at the Eldorado National Forest, starting in 1974 as an Engineering Tech and retiring in 2012 as the Forest Trails Manager. If you’ve ever paused at a lookout or crossed a well-built section of path, there’s a good chance Bill’s steady hands helped make it possible.

Bill believed in showing up when it mattered and building things for the people he cared about. He was the brains of the group—the one sketching plans and rallying friends to turn ideas into reality, from houses to decks to a personal disc golf course and everything in between. He was as comfortable on a trail or by a campfire as he was in his own living room and kitchen, and he was an avid reader who always had a science fiction book nearby.

He was the son of Thomas Henry Walker and Jean Marie (Netolicky) Walker, and the sibling to Thomas Henry Walker Jr., Barry James Walker, Donna Jean (Walker) Walsh, Bethany Ann (Walker) Marinone, Gary Paul Walker, Jean Marie (Walker) Wezowicz, David Christopher Walker, and Robert Michael Walker. He also leaves behind many close-knit friends and his step-son Christopher Peterson. He will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 26, 2025, at the Pleasant Valley Grange Community Hall. Guests are welcome to bring a favorite memory to share and are encouraged to wear a flannel shirt in Bill’s honor.

In Bill’s honor, we invite you to get outside and enjoy the trails he loved. His passion for the forest was immense, and he would want you to walk a path, breathe the pines, and take in the places he helped build. Please feel free to ask his dear friends about trails Bill worked on so you can experience them as he did.

Memories and photos may be shared at [email protected].