WALKER, Richard Lee 1938-2005

WALKER, ELDER, BISHOP, BROWNING, HEPBURN, BROWN, BRUCTO, PARKHURST, STONE

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 4/22/2013 at 23:13:29

[Waterloo Courier, Sunday, April 17, 2005]

WATERLOO - Richard Lee Walker, 67, of Flagstaff, Ariz., formerly of Waterloo, died Wednesday, March 30, 2005, following a long illness.

He was born March 9, 1938, in Hampton, son of Richard Lee and Mary Angela Elder Walker. He married Ruth Bishop in June 1960, and they later divorced. He married Patricia Browning March 13, 1987.

Mr. Walker grew up in Waterloo, graduating with the new West High class of 1956. He worked and set up the planetarium at the Grout Museum in his senior year of high school. After earning a degree in Astronomy and physics from the University of Iowa, he joined the staff of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., transferring to the Flagstaff station in 1966.

His specialty was double stars. He is credited with the discovery of Epimetheus, or "Shepard Moon" of Saturn.

He was a member of the International Astronomical Union, the American Astronomical Society and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Sigma Xi.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Brenda Walker of Las Vegas and Pamela (Eric) Hepburn of Holland, Ohio; four stepchildren, Doug Browning and Jennifer (Geoff) Brown, both of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Michael (Susan) Browning of Kingman, Ariz., and Kim (Doug) Bructo of Orient, Ohio; two brothers, Dan (Linda) of Iowa City and Michael (Colleen) of Waterloo; a sister, Mary Sue (Bob) Parkhurst of Washburn; 10 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Paula Jean Stone.

Memorial services were April 2 at Novel Owens Mortuary in Flagstaff.

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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