Obituary of Benjamin Franklin Walker

Benjamin Franklin Walker, Jr. passed away June 13, 2013. He suffered a slight stroke on May 2nd and wasn't able to 'bounce back' as he had done so many times in the past years. He was six weeks shy of his 91st birthday. Ben was born the 27th day of July 1922 in Santa Cruz CA to Benjamin Franklin and Helen Eugenia Walker. He lived on a small ranch on the Old San Jose Road in Soquel, attending Soquel Grammar School and Santa Cruz High School, graduating in 1940. Graduation night he left with friends and headed to southern California and immediately started working for North American Aviation. Ben married Lorraine DeMott in 1942, a local girl he had known since grammar school. They wed at the Congregational Church of Soquel. He was in the Navy August 1944 to March 1946, stationed at San Diego, Moffett Field and Norman Oklahoma for the duration of his enlistment. Ben and Lorraine raised four children in Soquel in a home he built. Ben worked locally in construction before joining Barnhart Construction in Santa Clara. One of his proudest accomplishments was supervising the building of DeAnza Junior College in Cupertino. At 50 years of age he retired and they moved to Petrolia, a small community in Humboldt County where he fulfilled a lifelong dream and became a rancher, eventually building another home on 22 acres. They raised sheep and had a huge garden and orchard, growing many of their own vegetables and fruits. The family has many happy memories of the annual barbecues held there. About eight years after Lorraine's death in 2000, he sold his beloved acreage and moved to Windsor CA where he lived with his daughter Sandy and son-in-law Dan. Preceding Ben in death were his wife Lorraine, a brother Charles, and baby sister Helen. He is survived by his four children and their spouses, Judy (Rick) Peretto of Santa Cruz, Donna (Bob) Dye of Albuquerque NM, Ben (Sharon) Walker of Soquel, and Sandy (Dan) Lindley of Windsor. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Steve Peretto, Kathy Locatelli, Carolyn Walker, Jennifer Sporl, Christopher Merrell and Jason Merrell all of the Santa Cruz area, Bob Smead of Albuquerque NM, Jeff Smead of Lewisville TX, and Dan Lindley, Jr., a sixth cousin/step grandson from Rio Dell CA. Ben also leaves 15 great-grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter (and another due soon), numerous step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren, sisters-in-law Nancy Walker of Memphis TN and Betty Fulmer of White Hall Arkansas, brother-in-law Bernie Bourriague of Santa Cruz and many nieces and nephews. Not related by blood but looked on as a daughter is Ginger Seyler of Windsor CA. He enjoyed his nightly phone calls to Clara Cooper, a dear friend. Services will be on Saturday June 22, 2013 at one p.m. at the Congregational Church of Soquel, 4951 Soquel Drive, Soquel CA. Dad was most comfortable in his Wranglers, so jeans attire is acceptable. Donations on Ben's behalf can be made to North County Hospice, 205 East Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448 or the charity of your choice.