In Memory of Ramona H. Van De Walker

Our dear friend Ramona went to be with her savior March 7, 2016 at the Hospice chaplaincy House. She was born and raised in the Los Angeles, California area to Dr. Walter Orlando Henry and Hazel H. Henry on November 24, 1923. Ramona had an adventurous childhood growing up on the beaches of California. She attended the University of Southern California achieving a degree in business, which led up to her employment as a personal secretary in the world’s largest Chrysler dealership Harger-Haldemon Chrysler. This is where she met the love of her life George Harger. They were married in Hawaii in 1959. This was the start of Ramona’s passion for travel. They traveled the globe from Panama to Chile, Italy, Greece, Spain and Egypt, all through Europe, Fiji Island, New Zealand and throughout the United States. Chrysler events took them too many foreign ports.

Ramona and George spent a great deal of time enjoying many social events she attended Prussian Royal balls, political events, charitable events, plus hob knobbed with celebrities at the big band night clubs. George passed away in 1968.

Ramona loved fashion and style and always carried herself with much grace. A true class act. She was involved in many fashion benefits for the emotionally disturbed children.

In 1983 Ramona met and married David Van De Walker, David was the chairman and head of television and radio broadcasting for the Los Angeles Dodgers. These were some of her favorite times also meeting interesting people, developing new friendships and again traveling to all the Dodgers games and events. David passed in 1995. Ramona then settled into her retired life in Glendale California enjoying time with the many friends she had met over the years. She was an avid reader; it wouldn’t be uncommon for her to be in the middle of four to five books at a time. Never reading one without reading the ending first, she would always say it had to be a feel good book.

Ramona then met and married John Eichar in 2003, which brought them to Tri-Cities, they only had a brief time together before John passed in 2004. She decided to stay in Tri-Cities where she met many new friends including Katie Carlson and Jeff Ellingsen who become Ramona’s new family, enjoying Sunday dinners, holidays, and just hanging out making all times spent together an event. Some of her favorite days were spent with Katie and Jeff’s 4 grandchildren. Ramona developed wonderful friends at her retirement home, all from different walks of life, she believed that is what kept life interesting. She is loved dearly and will be greatly missed.

There will be a Graveside Memorial Service for Ramona on Friday, March 18, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland.