posted
I am very sorry to have to pass the following news along. Chard Walker was a true, sweet and gentle - gentleman . Rest in peace Chard, you brought a lot of joy to us ATSF Fans !
I am so fortunate to have met this true gentleman and major railroading legend. We need more gentlemen like him in this world. He loved and enjoyed telling his life story at a Winterail program a few years ago. Chard Walker was a Cajon Pass telegrapher who worked at the ATSF Cajon Summit from the post WW2 era to the 1972 installation of CTC. In 1972 CTC was installed on Cajon AND the trackage at Cajon Summit was modernized.
It seems kind of appropriate that he passes while the BNSF is finishing the 3rd main from Keenbrook to Cajon Summit. I hope the BNSF will PERMANENTLY name a piece of land at the new Cajon Summit after him . A Control Point should definitely be named in his honor at the new 3 track Summit. Thank you for passing on this news to us! Rest in Peace Chard !
From the ATSF Yahoo Group this AM: I just received a phone call from Gene Rutledge telling me that a good friend to all who knew him, Chard Walker passed away around 9:00 this morning and was very peaceful when he slipped away. His death leaves a bit hole among those who knew him. When I get more information I will try to post it on the Santa Fe list.
I just received a phone call from Gene Rutledge telling me that a good friend to all who knew him, Chard Walker passed away around 9:00 this morning Pacific Daylight Time and was very peaceful when he slipped away. His death leaves a big hole among those who knew him. When I get more information I will try to post it on the Santa Fe list.
Norm Walters
Chard Walker passed away this morning, at about 800am, at his longtime home in Hesperia. Chard's condition had been deteriorating over the past couple of days. Good friends Charlie Schultz and Alan Serfas, along with Hospice Nurse Sabrina were in Hesperia when Chard passed on. Chard's daughters Judy and Joy have been notified in Lolo, MT. There will be a memorial service, at an as yet to be determined time and place.
Daughter Judy and her two daughters had come from Montana last weekend to visit Chard, but had returned home, Sunday, believing as many of us did that Chard would last a bit longer. Both of Chard's daughters, Joy and Judy, were in Hesperia during the middle of August when Chard was released from the hospital to go home.
Longtime friends, retired Engr Don C. Richardson and Condr Don Sheets agreed that Chard's passing marks the end of an era. Chard was a longtime member of Orange Empire Railway Museum and Pacific Railroad Society. It was through Pacific Railroad Society's predecessor organization, The Railroad Boosters, that Chard first traveled to Summit, in 1946, to stay in the Los Angeles Ry Funeral Car "Descanso," and enjoy Cajon Pass. Telegrapher Bob Wagner encouraged Chard to apprentice as a Santa Fe Ry telegrapher, in 1947, then eventually live and work at Summit. Chard lived in the "Descanso" from 1951 until 1955, before he got married. It was fellow Railroad Booster and Santa Fe employee, Jack Whitmeyer, who introduced Chard to his wife Margaret Sheely. Chard and Margaret's daughters, Joy and Judy, were born while the Walkers lived at Summit. The Walkers left Summit in 1967, for the home on Pine Street in Hesperia. Chard retired from the Santa Fe in 1983, while working at Barstow.
Signature Press plans on reprinting Chard's book Cajon Rail Passage to the Pacific, hopefully by Christmas.
The Walker Family may be sent cards and letters at Chard's address 18073 Pine St. Hesperia, CA 92345.
Glen Icanberry Redlands, CA
-------------------- Andy Jackson Downey CA Posts: 249 | From: Downey CA USA | Registered: Jul 2000
| IP: Logged |
I just received a phone call from Gene Rutledge telling me that a good friend to all who knew him, Chard Walker passed away around 9:00 this morning Pacific Daylight Time and was very peaceful when he slipped away. His death leaves a big hole among those who knew him. When I get more information I will try to post it on the Santa Fe list.
Norm Walters
Chard Walker passed away this morning, at about 800am, at his longtime home in Hesperia. Chard's condition had been deteriorating over the past couple of days. Good friends Charlie Schultz and Alan Serfas, along with Hospice Nurse Sabrina were in Hesperia when Chard passed on. Chard's daughters Judy and Joy have been notified in Lolo, MT. There will be a memorial service, at an as yet to be determined time and place.
Daughter Judy and her two daughters had come from Montana last weekend to visit Chard, but had returned home, Sunday, believing as many of us did that Chard would last a bit longer. Both of Chard's daughters, Joy and Judy, were in Hesperia during the middle of August when Chard was released from the hospital to go home.
Longtime friends, retired Engr Don C. Richardson and Condr Don Sheets agreed that Chard's passing marks the end of an era. Chard was a longtime member of Orange Empire Railway Museum and Pacific Railroad Society. It was through Pacific Railroad Society's predecessor organization, The Railroad Boosters, that Chard first traveled to Summit, in 1946, to stay in the Los Angeles Ry Funeral Car "Descanso," and enjoy Cajon Pass. Telegrapher Bob Wagner encouraged Chard to apprentice as a Santa Fe Ry telegrapher, in 1947, then eventually live and work at Summit. Chard lived in the "Descanso" from 1951 until 1955, before he got married. It was fellow Railroad Booster and Santa Fe employee, Jack Whitmeyer, who introduced Chard to his wife Margaret Sheely. Chard and Margaret's daughters, Joy and Judy, were born while the Walkers lived at Summit. The Walkers left Summit in 1967, for the home on Pine Street in Hesperia. Chard retired from the Santa Fe in 1983, while working at Barstow.
Signature Press plans on reprinting Chard's book Cajon Rail Passage to the Pacific, hopefully by Christmas.
The Walker Family may be sent cards and letters at Chard's address 18073 Pine St. Hesperia, CA 92345.
Glen Icanberry Redlands, CA
-------------------- Andy Jackson Downey CA Posts: 249 | From: Downey CA USA | Registered: Jul 2000
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
