Martha Walker

Martha W. Walker, 101, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa.

Martha Wilhelmina Heckman was born August 23, 1907, in Audubon County, Iowa, the daughter of Louis and Louisa (Petri) Heckman. At an early age the family moved to Guthrie County, where she attended rural school. Martha graduated from Adair High School, where she received Normal Training, and later taught in rural schools in Guthrie County.

On February 24, 1929, she married Roy Adam Walker. They farmed northwest of Adair until their retirement. In 1976 the couple moved to Atlantic.

Martha was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church and was a previous member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Adair and a current member of Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. She was an active member in the church, serving on many women's organizations.

She was a homemaker, and enjoyed sewing, crocheting, weaving rugs, making quilts and working with her flowers.

Martha is survived by her daughters, Ruth Walker of Ames, Iowa, Lois Ihnken and her husband, Kenneth of Atlantic, Iowa, Jean Smith and her husband, Ramon of Atlantic, Iowa, and Karen Smith of Colorado; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; her sisters, Marie Readinger of Guthrie Center, Iowa, Laura Garrett of Adair, Iowa, Helen Heckman and Ruby Anderson, both of Des Moines, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; Grace, her sister in infancy, her sister, Velma; her brothers, George, Lawrence, Melvin, Marcus and Ed; and her son-in-law, Charles Smith.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 16, 2009, at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa. Visitation will be held prior to the service, at the church, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery. The family invites you to join them for a luncheon, following services at the cemetery, in the Community Room at the Heritage House, 1200 Brookridge Circle, Atlantic, Iowa


Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.