Matie M. (Ruprecht) Walker

Matie M. (Ruprecht) Walker age 104, passed away at 3:15 a.m., Thursday, November 9, 2017, at Copeland Oaks.
Matie was born at her home in Chicago Illinois, July 10, 1913 to Frederick Albert and Anna Louise (Lampe) Ruprecht. Matie was named after a favorite aunt and was quite used to having her name misspelled and mispronounced.
She graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School. Growing up she enjoyed playing tennis and reading. Like so many during that time period she got a job to help support the family. Luckily the F.W. Woolworth Company in Chicago still hired at the beginning of the Great Depression. In 1939 she and several co-workers traveled by train to the west coast and the Vancouver-Lake Louise area. She also attended the Chicago, New York and San Antonio World Fairs.
In her twenties she moved to Alliance to help her sister who owned Thompson's Dairy Store on Main Street.
While riding motorcycles one evening, she met Ralph O. Walker of Salem whom she married on July 3, 1940 in River Forest, Illinois. Returning to Alliance they settled and raised a family of four children.
Matie was a devoted and loving homemaker, a talented lady who baked pies and cakes for family and many area residents. She was a fabulous seamstress, and a marvelous cook, canner and crafter. As blindness ensued she devised her own devices to meet the challenges for herself and others.
Returning to the workplace, Matie worked at W.T. Grant Company in Alliance, retiring after 15 years in 1973. Over the years she was active in the Women's Guild of Bethany United Presbyterian Church, Alliance Garden Club, Alliance Bowling League, Charter Member of Alliance AARP, Alliance Senior Citizen Center, George D. Worth Post Women's Auxiliary, Red Hat Society at Copeland Oaks Lakeshore Apartments and a member of the Damascus United Methodist Church.
She loved to travel. She and Ralph visited relatives from Florida to Arizona, and Minnesota to California. They enjoyed Alaskan, Canadian and Caribbean cruises.
Matie moved to Copeland Oaks in 1999 where her fierce independence enabled her to remain in assisted living into her hundreds. She met many new wonderful friends and had exemplary care.
Her family thanks the staff for the love, care and concern shown to her over the years.
Survivors include her sister, Betty Grosser and sister-in-law, Naomi Walker Ruprecht of Sarasota, Florida; son, Ralph J. "Jim" (Gwen) Walker of Tucson, Arizona; daughters, Judith A. (Frank) Trampush of Strongsville, Marianne Mahl of Elyria and Sandra L. (Jim) Kestner of Beloit; eight grandchildren, James D. (Erin) Walker, Jon (Meredith) Walker, Frank (Holly) Trampush, Michael (Jill) Trampush, Brian (Ursula) Trampush, Tracy Mahl, Terry Mahl and Jayme Kestner (Ray) Poorbaugh. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren.
Matie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ralph who passed away July 4, 1995; four brothers and an older sister.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, November 18, 2017, at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Highland Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Copeland Oaks Life Care Foundation 715 S. Johnson Road Sebring, OH 44672.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, OH 44601.

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