Iris Waldrep Walker

Iris Waldrep Walker died Tuesday June 16, 2015. She was born April 24, 1925 in Enoree, S.C., to Niles Franklin and Anna Bobo Waldrep. A graduate of Lander College in 1945, she moved to Union to teach English and Music. It was in Union at Grace United Methodist Church at her first Sunday as pianist that she met the love of her life, a new graduate of West Point, William Allen "Bill" Walker, Jr. They married in 1948 and began a life together that took them from Charlottesville to Los Alamos to Germany and many, many more stops along the way. The quintessential Army officer's wife, Iris supported Bill every step of the way and raised their four children, often on her own while he was away, testing for the National Lab and serving tours of duty in Korea and Vietnam. Following Bill's retirement after 30 years in the U.S. Army, they settled in El Paso, Texas. Bill died unexpectedly following surgery in 1978. Iris devoted the following decades to her family, rejoicing greatly in the lives of her eight grandchildren. Iris was a dedicated member of her local PEO Chapter. She moved to Wesley Commons in 2004, returning to her native S.C. and spending her final years close to her daughters and her brother and his family. Iris will be remembered for her fierce love of her family, her elegant and gracious manner, and her ever-present interest and care for the lives of those around her. She is survived by her four children, Susan Walker Edwards (David) of Moncks Corner, S.C., William A. Walker III (Vicki) of El Paso, TX, Anna Mary Walker Forrest (Creighton) of Chapin, S.C., and Tish Walker Szurek (Paul) of Asheville, NC, and her eight grandchildren, Matt Walker (Laura), Joanna Walker Garrison (Trey), Katy Walker Gutierrez (Arthur), Bill Forrest (Kacie), Walker Forrest (Mattison, fiancée), Paul Szurek, Jr., Walker Szurek, and Benjamin Szurek; and her brother Frank Waldrep (Lorene) of Greenwood, S.C. Her children would like to thank the staff of Wesley Commons for the loving care of their mother during the last years of her life. There will be a memorial service at Wesley Commons Chapel Saturday June 20, 2015 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity UMC 3209 Hwy 92, Enoree, S.C., 29335.