Born 4 January 1935 to Brigadier Robert Fowler Walker and Hope Dorothy Walker (nee Irving) in Woking, Surrey, England, Garret passed away unexpectedly en route to Wisconsin from his home in Cincinnati, OH.
As a child, Garret (aka Garry or “G”) lived with his mother and sisters in Egypt and Africa during the onset of World War II, while his father served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. After returning to England in 1944, he attended Sherborne School (School House) from 1948 to 1952 where he discovered a love of traditional jazz, blues, and boogie-woogie. Upon graduation in 1952, he pursued his passion for all-things-motorized, joining Rootes Motors Ltd. as a trainee in 1953. One of his favorite assignments was test driving new Hillman Imps under extreme conditions, north of the Arctic Circle and in the African desert.
In 1956, Garry joined his sister Judy and brother-in-law, Peter Holmes, on a four-month expedition to Spiti, then a remote and unexplored area of the Himalayas on the edge of Tibet. The adventure was documented in Peter’s book Mountains and a Monastery and provided vivid memories for Garry throughout his life.
Upon his return from India, Garry rejoined Rootes and was transferred to New York in 1963 where he subsequently met and married Vicki A. Lesser (1965). After a brief return to England, he officially emigrated to the U.S. in 1966, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1970. In 1973, he and Vicki adopted Loren, a new-born baby boy.
During his professional career in the U.S., Garry worked in industrial advertising and marketing, initially for Baldwin Technology Company in Stamford, CT (1967-1986). Following a divorce, he relocated to Florida and joined Webtron Corporation (1987-1991). Kismet played a major role in subsequent events. Garry married the love of his life, Cynthia T. Ray, in 1988 and they relocated from Florida to Cincinnati in 1995.
Over and above his profession, Garry’s wide-ranging interests, capabilities and easy-going nature defined him. In addition to his passion for cars and motorbike travel, he seemed to excel at most things he undertook, whether music, ice driving and boating, sailing, tennis, photography, or trivia. He couldn’t walk by a piano without sitting down and spontaneously playing a little blues or boogie-woogie.
‘Kind’ is the first word everyone uses to describe Garry. Witty, curious, fun and generous-spirited are others. He was patient, loving and gentle, with a keen mind and quiet confidence. His sparkling blue eyes and ready smile always conveyed a sense of welcome and appreciation. Despite struggling with Alzheimer’s during the final years of his life, he maintained his core qualities of joyfulness, compassion, wonder, love and gratitude.
Garret was predeceased by both parents and his two sisters (Lindsay Sellers and Judith Holmes). He is survived by his wife of 34 years (Cynthia) and son, Loren, along with Loren’s children (Kaya, Sylvie and Gavan), as well as numerous nephews and nieces in the U.S., England, New Zealand and Africa.
A memorial for Garret, followed by a reception, will be held on June 18, 2022 at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer (2944 Erie Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208) at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of your choice.
Garret Wellesley Walker attended Sherborne School (School House under housemaster A.B. Gourlay) from September 1948 to December 1952, during which time he was a member of the 6th form (Group IIIB); a House Prefect; a member of the 2nd XV (1952); Shooting VIII team (1951, 1952), Schools Hundred (1951); Trebles (1950, 1951, 1952); PT Instructor; Corporal in CCF; and LS in CCF (Naval Section).
