Hello Richie,

My name is Marilyn A. Walker, widow of Donald D. Walker who served on the 
Charles P. Cecil as 1st Electrians Mate.

I'm sorry to inform you that my wonderful, loving husband passed away on May 
6, 2000 at age 55 of Pancreatic Carcinoma.  I could write a book on the ten 
glorious years we had together.
  
It was a terrible shock to everyone who knew him.  He was a well-loved and 
highly respected gentleman at all times.  
Don was employed at Eastern Edison Elctric Co. as the crew leader of the 
substaion department located in Fall River, Ma.  He had been offered an 
administrative position many times, but he refused, because he loved his 
hands-on job and teaching new employees, with patience and care, the best and 
safest ways to do the job at hand.  People were always in awe of the patience 
and understanding of any situation or person he came in contact with.  (So 
was I, sometimes.)  He taught me well and many others eqaully as well.  
Don was diagnosed with the disease onSept. 27, 1999.  He answer to the 
doctors prognosis of two to three months to live was, very clamly, "Well, 
whatever God puts in my hands I have to deal with.".  I knew that this would 
be his response, but the doctor almost fell over!!!

Well, That two to three months ended up lasting from Sept. 27, 1999 to May 6, 
 2000.  I kept him her at home, the house he built himself.  With the help of 
Hospice  and their wonderful staff, I was able to keep Don out of his severe 
pain, and do all the medical care that was necessary.
He was such a good patient!  never a complaint, whatever had to be done to 
help him.  I gave him all my time and care and love to keep him comfortable 
and painfree.
  
I was a teacher for 29 years, elementary, grade 5.  I had to leave my class 
on Sept. 23, 1999 to go to my husband who had checked himself into the 
hospital because he was in such pain.  Of course, he was admitted and had 
emergency surgery that night.  Well, needless to say,  I never went back to 
that classrom.  No, I became a full time nurse from that day forward for my 
husband.
  
I still miss the children, because I decided to retire after my Don passed, 
and I hope to soon pursue a career in the medical field to help other people 
who are in the same positon Don I were not so long ago.
Right now, however, God has blessed me with a beautiful two month old female 
Golden Retriever who needs a lot of love and care and companionship.  Her 
name is Shelby D. Walker.  Strange, Don loved dogs, and he also knew that it 
was very difficult for me to not have someone who would give me uncondional 
love as he did.
  
Thank you, Don and God.
    
Well, I know this is a very long e-mail, but I guess I just need to write  
down my feelings right now, and this must have been the perfect timing, when 
I received the newsletter today.  Please keep them coming, still addressed to 
Don.  I love to read them.  Thanks for listening to my rambling and 
reminiscing.  Hope to hear from you.
  
Sincerely, Mrs. Donald D. Walker, and proud of it!!!!