Tribute: Jacqueline Ann Walker

Jacqueline Ann Walker (born Bischoff) was born in Odessa Sept. 2, 1938 to Mildred (Buddrius) and Mathias Bischoff, Jr. She spent her first 18 years in Wilson Creek, where she was the oldest of six brothers and one sister.

She attended the Wilson Creek school from Kindergarten through graduation in 1957.

She was proud that she read every book in the fourth grade library, was the class president and editor of the school newspaper.

Following high school, Jaqueline worked and lived in many cities across the United States, including the Egyptian Consulate in San Francisco, a ski resort in Sun Valley, Idaho, a switchboard operator in Chicago where she loved live jazz and as a nanny in Miami, Fla. She was well traveled, visiting most of the 50 states and Europe.

It was in Miami that she met her husband Ronald and in a whirlwind romance married him within a few short weeks. They were married over 52 years.

In 1967, Jacqueline and Ronald moved to Troy, Mich., where they opened "Walker's Cue Club." Over the next two decades they owned several pinball and video game businesses. Jackie also briefly owned and operated a travel agency. In 1967 they had their first daughter Marianna, followed by Kathleen in 1969. In 1984 the family moved to St. Petersburg, Fla.

Jackie was an avid reader of non-fiction. She followed politics, loved a good debate and good game of pinochle. She was a brilliant cook and had a marvelous eye for art and color. She crocheted beautifully and was fond of following the weather and hurricanes. Mom loved watching her grandchildren and was their first and favorite teacher. Her greatest joy was her family.

She is survived by her husband Ronald, Marianna Stephens (Walker) grandchildren Brock, Blake and Beck Stephens, Kathleen Finocchi (Walker) Paul, grandchildren Nicholas, Lilianna, Emily, brothers Kenneth Bischoff (Janet), Arley (Myrna), Nyal and Jerome (Laurie) and sister Elizabeth Webb.

Services will be held September 1, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church, 347 Sprague Rd. in Wilson Creek.