In loving memory of Norman Walker
December 31, 1927 – November 27, 2024
Norman Walker was born December 31, 1927 in Long Beach, California to Glen & Lucille Walker.
He passed away at almost 97 years old on November 27, 2024.
Norm spent most of his life on the Southern California coast, with a brief sojourn in Oregon where he worked as a “head faller” (lumberjack).
He served in the US Navy during the inter-war years as a “motor mac” on submarines. After finishing his service, he vowed to never again work on engines.
He matriculated at UC Berkeley and graduated with a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
While studying in Berkeley, he met and married Edie Magazin. They were married for 30 years and had two children together, Martin and Alexis.
After graduation, Norm and Edie moved back to Southern California where he co-founded Dana Laboratories, an electronics company in Orange County.
These were happy years for the Walker family, and they enjoyed sailing together. Norm became an expert catamaran racer and won the Newport to Ensenada race, and had the fastest time round trip from Long Beach to Catalina in a race, both races on board the family catamaran Imua.
Norman and Edie suffered the loss of their daughter Alexis in 1985.
In 1983 Norm met Pat Porter, and they were married in 1984. Pat and Norm kept homes in Solano Beach and Santa Fe New Mexico and enjoyed skiing, friendships, and an active social and travel life for the duration of their marriage. They even enjoyed fly fishing together.
Norm and Pat loved their combined families and especially cherished the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Even well into their late ’80’s they would travel to meet the newest members of the family.
Norm is preceded in death by his wife Patricia (July 19, 2021), his brother Winston Walker (2019), and by both his parents.
Norm is survived by his son Martin Glenn Walker, daughter-in-law Nancy Reyering, step-daughter Lisa Mitchell and her spouse Paul, grandchildren Taress Hsu and Zak Mitchell and great-grandchildren Grace Hsu, and Quinn, Maddox, Zoe, and Lexi Mitchell.
