Mary B Walker

Mary B. Walker walked on to the other side on Thursday, March 6 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She was met at the Pearly Gates by her dear friend, Bob Brooks, who exclaimed “Come on Mary! It is time to party!”

Mary was born in Madison County, Alabama in 1937. Shortly after high school she began a career with the federal government at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Working at Redstone whetted Mary’s appetite to go and explore the world. In the late 50’s and early 60’s the US Space Program took root in Huntsville when the famous German scientist Wernher Von Braun and his German colleagues came to Redstone to build the US rocket program. Mary had a front row seat to watch the “Germans” work and by 1967 she was ready to see what lie beyond the borders of North Alabama. Mary applied for a civilian job for her husband Gentry, without his knowledge, with the US Army in Germany. Much to his surprise she told him he had been selected for a job in Germany and her world travels began. Gentry and the kids, Greg, and Jenni came along.

Mary spent 47 years working for the federal government first at Redstone Arsenal and then with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools Systems in Karlsruhe, Germany, Ft. Sam Houston in Texas, US Army Europe (USAREUR) in Heidelberg, Germany and concluded her work career in 1996 retiring from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management, at the Pentagon. Her job took her all over the world and what trips she did not take to far-off places with her job she took for pleasure.

She lived life to the fullest during retirement. She travelled all over Europe and the US with her bounty of friends. She worked at the White House during the last Clinton term and became a well-loved volunteer staffer which resulted in a coveted post in the West Wing with a bird’s eye view of the activity of a Presidential office. She made friends with everyone, including President Clinton’s secretary, Betty Currie, who she remained in touch with after the Clinton’s left the White House. Her famous fudge landed her granddaughter a one-on-one visit with the Clinton dog, Buddy. She met many famous dignitaries and entertainers. After escorting Fleetwood Mac into the White House for a performance she called her kids and left a voice mail, “Kids, that Mick Fleetwood is a hoot!” What a gig.

Her retirement allowed her to do what was her most beloved endeavor… working at the Kennedy Center. For over 20 years Mom was a Kennedy Center institution, spreading good cheer with her sunny personality and upping the blood sugar of fellow Kennedy Center employees with her famous fudge. This group of intrepid theater lovers were a second family to Mary.

She loved working the Kennedy Center Honors and provided her friends with a detailed summary of each event. She met extraordinary entertainers and was often chosen to work the Presidential Box where she interacted with VIP guests as well as Presidents, Cabinet members, members of Congress and high-ranking members of the military. She was well suited to a job that required excellent diplomacy skills and an adherence to protocol.

In the 1980s Mary became friends with a group of like-minded ambitious women who worked as government financial analysts. The group of eight friends, known as the. Big Eight, after the national accounting firms at that time, were lifelong friends who supported each other in good times and bad. They continued to have lunches or dinners together every month even after retirement. Mary treasured her Big Eight sisters.

Mary lived at an incredible assisted living facility in De Pere, Wisconsin which closely emulated the active and fun life she experienced in Washington DC. Her time was spent going to the theater, dining at infamous Wisconsin supper clubs, trips to museums and other activities that kept her mind and body active. The staff doted on her and she received superb medical care at Rennes, so her last few years of life were of an extremely high quality. Her family cannot thank the staff of Renaissance by Rennes enough along with the outstanding medical professionals who provided her medical care at the Bellin Health System. Mary died without pain and peacefully at Bellin Hospital.

Mary’s friends and family know how much she treasured Fine Arts and Literacy. The family invites all who knew and loved her to honor her memory by donating to the Green Bay Public Schools Education Foundation and earmarking a donation in the “comments section” in her name for Literacy and Arts Programming. The Green Bay schools provide robust Fine Arts and Literacy programming for children which provides access to literacy opportunities as well as music lessons and participation in theater and performing arts in the school and beyond. (https://educationfoundation.gbaps.org/makeagift)

Mary’s remains will be cremated and if her wishes were to be followed her ashes would be scattered at “Select Seconds” her favorite thrift store in Virginia. Instead, the family will have a memorial service in Grand Rapids, Michigan later this summer. Mary was known for her love of the color red. Think of her the next time you don that color and know she is glad you’re continuing her tradition of “painting the town red!”.

Mary is survived by her son, Gregory Garner, and his wife Evelyn, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, their children Lydia Garner (Trent) and Grace Garner Ali (Mark Ali), Katrina Connor, Anne Connor (Dakota), and Amberleigh Myers (Justin) along with great grandchildren Dominick, Abigail, and Wednesday Adams and Quinn, and Ransome Myers.

She is also survived by her daughter Jennifer Garner of Green Bay and her children Jeff and Deb Xavier-Grondin Amy Grondin. Great grandchildren Cecelia Aimee Xavier Grondin, Theodora Xavier Bruscato and Deon Willis.

Mary leaves behind her beloved sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Stephan Dirtadian and nieces and nephew Stephanie Dirtadian Bay, Angie and Chuck Benson, Laura, and Ara Dirtadian. Grandnieces and nephew Brittany Bay, Anie and Dylan Dirtadian, Emily Margaret and Elizabeth Mary Benson.

Mary was proceeded in death by her sister, Doris Fowlkes and nephew David Fowlkes and survived by nieces Patricia Duncan and Jo Pendergraff.

Mary left her EXs in Texas.