Iris E. Walker

Iris E. Walker, age 88, of New Philadelphia, passed away Sunday, February 28, 2016, in Park Village, Dover, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Born September 28, 1927, at Dover, she was a daughter of the late William and Marie Pfeiffer Murray. Iris graduated from Dover High School in 1945, and, on June 8, 1947, married George W. Walker. The couple shared sixty-two years of marriage prior to George's passing in 2009. After rearing her family, Iris assisted George in the operation of the family business, the former Acme Printing at New Philadelphia.

Iris was a long-time member of New Philadelphia's Otterbein United Methodist Church. She was a loving homemaker whose life revolved around her family; she found special joy in being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Iris was a dear, sweet soul who liked the simple things in life, such as family fishing trips to Canada, working in the yard around her home, keeping it clean and neat, and going for long car rides around the county, often stopping for ice cream.

Survivors include her sons, Stephen (Karen) Walker of Navarre, and Brian Walker of New Philadelphia; her granddaughters, Stephanie Watson of Niles, and Karen (Larry) Vance of Phoenix, Arizona; her great-grandchildren, David and Natalie Watson; and her many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents, and her beloved husband, George, Iris was preceded in death by her two sisters, Ethel Murray and Elsa Mitchell; and her five brothers, William, Charles, Oliver, John and Eldon Murray.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, 246 E. High Ave., New Philadelphia, on Tuesday, March 1, 5 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 2, at 11 a.m., in the funeral home, with Pastor Jon H. Long officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Iris, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the funeral home's website.

The family suggests that contributions in Iris' memory be made to Otterbein United Methodist Church, 156 Beaver Ave. N.E., New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.