James R. Walker, 89, died of congestive heart failure June 11, 2005 at his home in Alterra Wynwood. Born in Carson, Iowa, 1915, Jim was the youngest of five children of Sarah and John Walker. He grew up helping his parents manage a small farm, learning to drive at age 12 so he could deliver vegetables all over town in the Model T pickup. That love of the earth kept Jim gardening until he moved into Alterra Assisted Living just over a year ago. He and his beloved wife of 62 years, Catherine, kept the family, neighbors, Senior Center and Gospel Mission supplied with fresh produce for many years.

In high school, Jim lettered in three sports, sang in the glee club, and carried the lead in the school musical, all of which earned him a college scholarship. Sadly, the depression struggles never allowed him to fulfill that college dream. Like others, he scrounged for any work, recalling instances like unloading a boxcar of bricks for two dollars!

By age 20, after a stint in the CCC, Jim and a buddy built a small trailer for his friend’s Model T and set out to explore the west in search of work. After three months he returned home to Avoca, where he met Catherine in a typing class and finally convinced the telephone company to hire him. After marrying and starting a family, Jim’s draft board refused to enlist him because he was one of only two linemen in the entire county. He always lamented that the board drafted his older brothers, who had ten children, so has contributed generously to veterans’ needs.

After ten years of climbing poles through Iowa winters, Jim and Catherine piled their three children and few belongings into the car and headed west, arriving in Richland in 1947. Like so many other pioneers, they fought the sand and dust storms, the homesickness, the housing shortages and the great flood, helping to shape the amazing Richland of today.

Jim worked in town initially, then a Hanford for CE, ITT and GTE, retiring at age 60 in 1976. For a hobby and some profit, Jim and Catherine took up garage sales, refurbishing others’ castoffs for their own efficient sales. Together they figured out how to recycle, fix or rebuild nearly anything, truly living by their oft-quoted “Waste not, Want no” motto.

Jim specialized is fishing equipment and bicycles, soon becoming known as “The Bicycle Man” for a decade because he believed every kid should have one at the right price.

Always ready to lend a hand or stop to help someone along the road, Jim would also easily open his billfold when needed. He and Catherine scrimped and deprived themselves to ensure their three children the college education they’d missed, and were proud that several grandchildren and one great grandchild also earned degrees. Jim and Catherine worked several crosswords daily and beat everyone at Scrabble. An avid reader until his death, Jim especially loved westerns or anything related, but liked a mystery too.

Jim had a sharp wit and a knack for telling stories, loved to sing and fished every possible chance, but he especially shone at the poker table. Grieving Catherine, who died in 2000, and his eldest daughter, Janice Wilson, who succumbed to an aneurysm in 2002, he found delight and camaraderie playing poker at the Community Center five days a week. Jim just loved people, including the residents and staff at Alterra, and flashed his warm smile readily. We will miss him, as we do Mom.

He is survived by his son, Jim Walker of Richland, and daughter Wendie Vermillion of Eugene, OR; eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Richland Senior Association, care of Jack Trigg, Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Dr., Richland, WA 99352.