By San Diego Voice and Viewpoint Staff
Mardelle Walker was born on April 1, 1924, to Fred and Rebecca Lofton. She grew up in
North Carolina with her siblings; Fred Junior, known as Brother, and her sister known as Sis. Her early years were filled with interesting experiences that shaped her life. After graduating from high school, she and a cousin traveled north to live with an uncle in New York. That adventure eventually brought her to Washington D.C., where she worked at the Pentagon during the Second World War. During that time, while enjoying her youth and social life, she met her future husband Thomas E. Walker, who served in the Navy. They dated, married, and decided to start a family.
During the 1950s, when men worked outside the home and wives cared for the household, Mardelle and Tom raised four children: Tommy Junior, Ronald, Ivy, and Alan, each born a few years apart. She also cared regularly for her niece Pamela, whom she lovingly considered part of the family. When asked how many children she had, she would proudly answer, five. Mardelle was an involved mother who joined the PTA, supported school events, and remained active in her children’s lives. Once all the children were in school, she felt ready to work again. She first secured a position at MCRD as a clerk at the PX, but her ultimate goal was to return to government work. Her sister-in-law worked at the Naval Supply Center in San Diego, and Mardelle eagerly checked for openings. She visited so often that employees thought she already worked there. In time she was hired, beginning as a clerk and later becoming a systems analyst. She worked at Naval Supply for thirty-one years and returned as a consultant for an additional two years after retiring.
Her children remained important to her throughout her life. In retirement she especially enjoyed time with her grandchildren Pete and Rebecca, spending summers and Christmas holidays with them in San Diego.
Mardelle lived a long and fulfilling life, reaching 101 years, passing on November 15, 2025. She faced challenges with strength and humor and kept her independence well into her later years. She was known as a kind and genuine person, truly one of the good ones. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her.
