Walker, Donnalee Veronica

Donnalee Veronica Walker, 78, of Des Moines, passed away early Thursday morning, Jan. 20, 2011, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Iles Funeral Homes-Westover Chapel in Des Moines. Private family burial will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Donnalee was born Jan. 12, 1933, the daughter of Helen and Basil “Jim” Ryan in Highland Park, Ill. She was a graduate of Ames (Iowa) High School and Des Moines Mercy School of Nursing. She was married in 1953 to Herndon “Bud” George Walker Jr. and raised three boys in Cedar Rapids, where they lived from 1961-1967. In 1966, she was widowed and succeeded her husband as the first female pharmaceutical sales representative for Bristol Laboratories now known as Bristol-Myers-Squibb. She held other professional positions in the pharmaceutical, insurance and related industries throughout her career.

She will be remembered most for her great compassion and caring for others. Donnalee touched many people.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herndon George Walker Jr.; her son, Stephen George Walker; infant daughter, Judith Ann Walker; and two brothers, Kenneth W. Ryan and Jerry Ryan. 

She is survived by her sons and their families, Stuart (Debbie) Walker, and their children, Mitchell and Erin Walker, of Clive and Christopher (Elena) Walker, and their children, Madison and Christopher Walker II, of Haymarket, Va.

Memorials may be made to Mercy Hospice in Johnston.