Milestone

About a month ago I decided to get my act together and run in the mornings. It was nice but hard to do since I haven’t run like that in a long time. I had only done a couple of morning runs when my aunt suggested that I sign up for the Shamrock Run on March 16.

There was a 5K, three waves of 8K and the 15K race to sign up for. I’ve never done an organized run before and only had about two weeks to get ready so I signed up for the shorter of the three. I use to run a 5K everyday for soccer practice and I knew I could finish the 5K without killing myself.

Of course that was in high school 8 years ago.

I had a blast on race day. 16000 runners crowded downtown Portland and that’s not counting the volunteers and spectators. After the race, there was free beer and clam chowder for those who ran but there was a million other things going on as well.

It was a quick race and I kept my pace as well as I could. I finished in 27:05 which wasn’t to shabby for not having run like that in a long time and only two weeks of prep. But now I have a base time to compare future runs to which I plan on doing. Eventually I would like to participate in a triathlon but that’s not for awhile.

Kenneth C. Walker

I've never been to a funeral. Few members of my family have passed away during my life time and those who have I never spent as much time with as would have liked.

My grandfather passed away late last week and I was unable to make it to the funeral in New York. I figured I could best honor him by re-publishing his obituary within my own blog.

~ For my grandfather ~

ONEONTA- Kenneth C. Walker, 82, of Oneonta, passed away Saturday, March 8, 2008, at the A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta, with his loving family by his side.
He was born Nov. 24, 1925, in Waterville, the son of George and Georgianna (Lux) Walker. He married Shirley Jeffers on Dec. 10, 1966, at the First United Methodist Church in Oneonta.
Ken served in the United States Navy during World War II, and was honorably discharged as a radioman 2nd class.
For a period of 35 years, retiring in 1986, Ken worked in the UC&M division for NYSEG in Oneonta. Ken was also a former part-time greeter with the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Oneonta, also a 61-year member of the American Legion and a member of the Oneonta American Legion Post 259 in Oneonta. Ken was the second-oldest living past commander at Oneonta Post 259, a former director for many years, and served in any capacity required of him for the Oneonta Legion. He was a past commander of Morris American Legion Post 1135.
He was a member of the Oneonta Elks BPOE 1312, the Quarter Century Club and the Woodhaven Golf Course.
He loved watching his grandchildren participating in all types of sports and enjoyed gardening. He also enjoyed traveling abroad with his wife to various vacation spots.
In his earlier years, he enjoyed bowling. He was an avid Boston Red Sox and New York Giants fan.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Shirley Walker, of Oneonta; his children, Sharon Walker, of Oneonta, Steve Walker, of Anchorage, Alaska, Connie Shea, of Guilderland, John (Christy) Walker, of Afton, Doug (Sue) Payton, of Oneonta, and Lori (Mike) Benjamin, of Hyde Park. He is also survived by a brother, Harold (Mary) Walker, of Whitesboro; and by his grandchildren, Michael, Brad, Natalie, Jessica, Matt W., Luke, Nate, Katie, Matt P., Ben, Andrew, Zachary, Jake and Ryan. And great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Ethan, Alex and Chase; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides his parents; he was predeceased by a brother, Robert Walker; and his first wife, Norma (Colburn) Walker.
A funeral service will be offered at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand St., Oneonta, with the Rev. Kenneth Baldwin officiating. An American Legion service will be conducted at noon. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at the funeral home before the service. The family will be in attendance.
Burial will be in the spring in Glenwood Cemetery with military honors.
Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Oneonta Little League, PO Box 542, Oneonta, NY 13820, the Oneonta American Legion Post 259, 279 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 13820, or to the American Heart Association, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220-3049.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Published in The Daily Star from 3/10/2008 - 3/11/2008.