He’s referred to by friends, loved ones and shoppers as, Old Man Walker. While most believe him to be taking a short nap, Walker will perish Tuesday morning while riding home on the bus. He does so, ironically, shortly after doing what he loved.

Walker is a familiar face at the mall, where he regularly waited at the glass doors, often pounding on them, until they opened at 8 a.m. so he could walk its empty halls endlessly.

Walker was one of the dozens of elderly persons that exercised at the mall, annoying anchor store cashiers that had to see them do roundabouts regularly, but became a stand out for his mysterious personal life. The few that tried to talk to him were greeted by glazed stares and drooling, nothing more.

In recent years, a rumor began to spread among the middle school skateboarding crowd that Walker escaped from a nursing home several years ago, hoping to go back home, but later realized that his Alzheimer’s would make his quest an endless one. This reporter could not confirm or deny the rumor, nor could he confirm the subject’s age, which is probably like 80.

A memorial service will be held for Walker at the Old People’s Memorial Hall near Mid-sized City Mall. Friends and family are asked to donate to the Alzheimer’s fund dedicated to Walker, at wherethehellamigoing.com in lieu of flowers.

Categories: Obituaries
Tags: Obits, Walker