S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

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Obituary

Wallace Allen Walker

May 26, 1927–July 6, 2016

Editor’s Note:  Wally Walker, a former S.E.C. Member, wrote numerous articles for the original Real Estate News Observer.  Wally was the inventor of the Taker Board that we still use today.

Wallace Allen (Wally) Walker of Boise passed away on July 6, 2016.  He was born May 26, 1927, to William F. and Margaret Walker. Wally was raised in Boise’s north end and graduated from Boise High School in 1945. He then enlisted in the Navy and was stationed at Whidbey Island Washington. Wally then attended Boise Junior College and Washington State University, graduating from WSU in 1950. During that time, he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and he was actively involved with the Intercollegiate Knights, serving as national president. Wally then worked for the Boy Scouts of America. He married Gwendolyn Austin in September of 1950. After living in Walla Walla, Washington, for a year, Wally and Gwen returned to Boise.

Wally began his real estate career at Day Realty and later formed his own real estate company. The real estate commissioner asked him to write the first real estate manual for the State of Idaho. Wally was recognized as Idaho Realtor of the Year in 1965 and served as president of the Boise Board of Realtors. He began teaching real estate at Boise State College and enjoyed sharing his love of real estate with others by teaching courses across the United States.

Wally was involved in the Boise community and served as the building chairman for the Boise YMCA from 1962–1969. He led the effort to establish the building that is now the downtown Y. The YMCA is an organization that he wholeheartedly believed in and was a lifetime member of the Treasure Valley YMCA. In the early 1970s, Wally served on the Boise Greenbelt and Pathway committee to help the city plan and develop Boise’s beautiful Greenbelt.

Wally and Gwen were also active in the Boise Jaycee organization, and here they had a large circle of friends who loved getting together for monthly bridge parties. He also led the fundraising efforts to establish the building for the University Christian Church. Wally was a member and elder of the First Christian Church (later University Christian).

Wally is survived by his four children, Susan (Mitch) Lowe of Beaverton, Oregon, Scott (Sandy) Walker of Tucson, Arizona, Sandy (John) Orlovich of Boise, Idaho, and Stephanie (Jan) Walker of Oregon City, Oregon. He is survived by five grandchildren, Jake and Jeff Lowe, Jason and Greg Walker, and Nicole Orlovich. He is also survived by six great-grandchildren; his sisters, Faye Harter of Medford, Oregon, and Bertha Jeffers of Mililani, Hawaii; and three nephews.