Edina Walker 

October 20, 1930 – February 19, 2026

Edina "Dena" Walker lived 95 beautiful, full, and independent years before peacefully passing away on February 19, 2026 at her home in Eugene, Oregon. Born on October 20, 1930 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Dena was a woman who made everyone around her feel like family, and the world is a little warmer for having had her in it.

Dena was raised in a sawmill camp as the second youngest kid in a big, lively household, and she came by her personality honestly. She was famously the family tattletale, grew up wearing dresses her mother stitched together from flour sacks, and somehow survived the Great Depression on sulfur, molasses, and cod liver oil with tomato juice. What she carried out of those humble beginnings wasn't hardship, but heart.

The great love story of her life began at 14, when she spotted a handsome 18-year-old Navy man named Bill Walker at a Grange Hall dance. She invited him to Christmas dinner but he was too shy to show up. Fortunately, he came around and on November 30, 1946, they made it official. What followed was a lifetime of partnership, laughter, pinochle, bowling, holiday traditions, and spending time with Dena’s siblings. When Dena was expecting their son Larry, she insisted on moving back to Klamath Falls from Arkansas to be near her “mama.” They eventually settled in Eugene, where daughter, Sharon, was born and they built their family life and their happiest years. Bill's sudden passing in 1980 at just 54 left a deep hole in her heart, but Dena carried his memory with grace for the rest of her long life.

Dena had a gift for showing up for people. For 23 wonderful years, she was a beloved instructional assistant at Ida Patterson Elementary School - remarkable, given that her own school days had been, in her words, a "horror" thanks to some rough, gruff and unkind teachers. She made sure the children in her care felt nothing but kindness. She also volunteered at the local soup kitchen and kept a garage full of food storage. For many years, she poured love into her daughter Sharon's foster children, embracing every single one as her own. Dena was also a woman of deep faith who cherished her church community at First Evangelical Church (now Grace Fellowship).

During her last six years, she thrived at Solvang Retirement Community, living independently and on her own terms. She played bean bag baseball, joined the "Ding A Lings" music group, played Wii bowling, and made sure that everyone who walked into the dining room felt welcome at her table.

To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was "Grandma Dena" and "GG,” the one who always showed up to cheer them on, who hosted legendary sleepovers in her bed, complete with hot chocolate and treats, who baked the world-famous "GG bread," and who gave what can only be described as the world's best “GG hugs.” Long conversations, holiday magic, and a love that never made anyone feel like anything less than the most important person in the room - that was GG.

She leaves behind her son Larry (Leslie) Walker, her daughter Sharon (Dan) Robbins, 11 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren, along with a community of nieces, nephews, in laws, friends and neighbors whose lives are richer for knowing her. She was preceded in death by her beloved Bill, her parents Frederick and Anna, and her 10 siblings.

"Just relax and let it go.” was a life lesson shared by Dena.

We think she'd want us to do exactly that.

A celebration of Dena's life will be held at Solvang Retirement Community (1202 Jacobs Drive, Eugene) on April 4, 2026 at 2pm. All are welcome — she would have insisted on it.