June Joy (Ball) Walker
1922-2017

June Walker passed away at Wheatlands Health Care Center in Kingman, Kansas on September 25, 2017. June was born in Otego, KS, the middle child of John Guy Ball and Susie Viola (Morrow) Ball.
She had an older sister Carol; an older brother Max, a younger brother Julian and a younger sister May Beth. June attended grade school and then high school in Esbon, Kansas, graduating from Esbon High School in 1940. Throughout grade school and high school, she participated in music, served on the high school yearbook staff and was a high school cheerleader throughout those years.
Shortly after graduation, she met Byron Walker through a common friend on a blind date, because Byron was too shy to talk to her direct. It was apparently love at first sight, followed by marriage on June 14, 1942. The loving relationship lasted another 69 and a half years until she lost Byron in November 2011.
After marriage, Byron and June lived in Meade, Kansas, where Byron was working at the State Pheasant Farm. While Byron was in the army during World War II, June held down the home front in Esbon and Mankato, Kansas, where she worked as a telephone exchange operator. After the war ended, they returned to Meade until Byron was transferred to Kingman, Kansas as Superintendent of the Calista Quail Farm in September of 1947. Their first daughter, Patricia Sue, was born in Meade in 1946. Three additional children blessed the marriage over the five years; Danny in 1948, and Mary and Larry in 1952.
As normal, with most marriages during the post-war years, June spent her time raising the children, but also was an un-sung hero at the Quail Farm by helping in any way she could. There are several pictures in the family showing June working alongside her husband raising quail and helping develop what is now the Byron Walker Wildlife Management Area. The Byron Walker Wildlife Management Area, through their combined 40 years of work, still serves as an excellent example of wildlife management through habitat development.
June was a life-member of Della Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, having joined in 1960. She served in several positions in both Della Chapter and Grand Chapter, including 33 years as Della Chapter secretary.
June was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings; brother Julian in 1945 (Killed in Action in the European Theater), brother Max in 2006, sister Carol in 2013 and sister MaeBeth in 2016. She is survived by her four children: Patricia Kane (and husband Ed) of Forest, VA; Danny Walker (and wife Shirla) of Laramie, WY; Larry Walker of Kingman, KS; and Mary Walker of Goddard, KS. She is also survived by four grandchildren (Tina, Stephanie, Bradley and Amanda) and four great-grandchildren (Tyler, Kathryn, Samantha and Elizabeth).
Services will be held Monday, Oct. 2 at 2:00 p.m. at Livingston Funeral Home in Kingman, Kansas. Visitation will be Sunday, Oct. 1, between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The family will be available between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to either the Wheatlands Health Care Center, or the Wildlife Trust Program of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.