Obituary, Bruce Robert Walker, 66

Bruce Walker, 66, passed away in Seattle, Washington, August 2, 2016, surrounded by family members, after a recent brief illness.

Bruce, a lifelong

Alaskan resident, was born in Fairbanks to Frank and Lillian (Sjoquist) Walker of Circle, Alaska. Bruce’s parents were Bureau of Indian Affairs Teachers which taught

Bruce to enjoy traveling and living in numerous villages and towns throughout Alaska including Circle,

Solomon, Upper and Lower Kalskag, Bethel, Wrangell, and Juneau.

Bruce graduated

from Wrangell High School in May, 1969, and earned his Bachelors’ Degree in

1973, after attending the College of the Redwoods in California and

Southeastern State College in Oklahoma.

Bruce settled in Anchorage where he worked for Alaska Aeronautical Industries (AAI), from 1974 to 1986, as a flight instructor and pilot of twin otters until he became the Chief Pilot.

In 1986, Bruce was employed by the

Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), Anchorage office, where he worked for

30 years as an inspector and supervisor until his retirement in July, 2016. Bruce

received numerous awards during his tenure with the FAA, including nomination

for Employee of the Year in 1992.

Bruce had a great passion for flying and dedicated his

life to flying and teaching flight safety in Alaska. He also

loved fishing,

basketball, movies, and listening to “oldies but goodies” music.

In 1978, Bruce

married Linda Sorensen, his lifelong partner and soul mate. Linda was his rock and support during his many difficult

periods of illness and recovery. He was a wonderful dad and amazing grandpa and

was always a kind and

generous person with a great story to tell.

Bruce is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lillian Walker.

He is survived by wife Linda and their son Kris Hovila, wife Tammy, and three grandchildren, the three P’s: Payton, Parker, and Paige; and brother and sister in law, Wayne and Colleen Walker, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Bruce’s life was held August 20th, at the Legacy Heritage Chapel at Angelus in Anchorage.