Dorothy Walker Obituary

March 27, 1929 - December 10, 2009

Dorothy Ruehl Walker, who will be remembered for her generous spirit and her tireless work on behalf of children with learning disabilities, died on Thursday, December 10, at the Namaste Nursing Home, of cardiac arrest. She was 80 years old.
Dorothy Walker, known as Dottie, was born in Spokane, Washington and attended Vassar College in New York. She moved to Colorado Springs in 1955 with her husband, Richard (Dick) Fenby Walker, who, for many years, was the co-owner of Walker Brothers Lumber Company with his brother James (Beno) Walker. Richard Walker died in 2000.
Dottie was an energetic supporter of the arts in Colorado Springs, stage managing many of the children's plays performed by the Junior League in the 1960's and, as a member of the Colorado Springs Opera Guild, raising money to help create and sustain the Colorado Springs Opera. But it was as an early leader in the field of learning disabilities that she will be best remembered. After discovering that her two sons suffered from dyslexia and other learning issues, she set out on a life-long quest to not only help her own sons, but to also help other parents, teachers and schools throughout the region recognize and understand the special needs of children with learning disabilities.
She was instrumental in forming a number of local organizations that provided support to families and schools, including the Citizens' Task Force for Children with Learning Disabilities, the El Paso County Association for Children with Learning Disabilities (ECACLD) and the Learning Disabilities Association (LDA). She tutored many children over the years, helping them go on to college and successful careers.
An avid athlete and outdoorswoman, Dottie excelled in tennis and golf, and she especially enjoyed skiing, camping and hiking with her family and friends.
She is survived by her three children: Margaret (Meg) Walker of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York; Tim Walker of Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Sam Walker of Denver; and her grandchildren, Sophia, Annie, Erin and Lila. A memorial service open to all will be held at the Broadmoor Community Church, 730 Lake Avenue, on January 3, 2009 at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the LEAD Foundation (Learning and Educating About Disabilities) for the Dorothy Walker Scholarship Fund, C/O Pikes Peak Community Foundation, 730 North Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.