Re: Chard Walker
Author: cajon
Date: 09-28-2007 - 11:00
Chard Walker passed away this morning, at about 800am, at his
longtime home in Hesperia. Chard's condition had been deteriorating
over the past couple of days. Good friends Charlie Schultz and Alan
Serfas, along with Hospice Nurse Sabrina were in Hesperia when Chard
passed on. Chard's daughters Judy and Joy have been notified in
Lolo, MT. There will be a memorial service, at an as yet to be
determined time and place.
Daughter Judy and her two daughters had come from Montana last
weekend to visit Chard, but had returned home, Sunday, believing as
many of us did that Chard would last a bit longer. Both of Chard's
daughters, Joy and Judy, were in Hesperia during the middle of August
when Chard was released from the hospital to go home.
Longtime friends, retired Engr Don C. Richardson and Condr Don Sheets
agreed that Chard's passing marks the end of an era. Chard was a
longtime member of Orange Empire Railway Museum and Pacific Railroad
Society. It was through Pacific Railroad Society's predecessor
organization, The Railroad Boosters, that Chard first traveled to
Summit, in 1946, to stay in the Los Angeles Ry Funeral
Car "Descanso," and enjoy Cajon Pass. Telegrapher Bob Wagner
encouraged Chard to apprentice as a Santa Fe Ry telegrapher, in 1947,
then eventually live and work at Summit. Chard lived in
the "Descanso" from 1951 until 1955, before he got married. It was
fellow Railroad Booster and Santa Fe employee, Jack Whitmeyer, who
introduced Chard to his wife Margaret Sheely. Chard and Margaret's
daughters, Joy and Judy, were born while the Walkers lived at
Summit. The Walkers left Summit in 1967, for the home on Pine
Street in Hesperia. Chard retired from the Santa Fe in 1983, while
working at Barstow.
Signature Press plans on reprinting Chard's book Cajon Rail Passage
to the Pacific, hopefully by Christmas.
Glen Icanberry
Redlands, CA