PETER OLIVER WALKER

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PETER OLIVER WALKER January 20, 1939 - November 5, 2011 With his wife at his side, Peter O. Walker passed away peacefully at the Riverview Health Centre on Saturday, November 5, 2011. He was 72 when he died from the effects of an inoperable brain tumor. Peter is survived by his wife Pat and their family of six children and eight grandchildren including: son Graham (Susan Powder), Chelsea; son Dane (Nicole) Cody and Hayley; daughter Anna (Jesse Gibb); stepsons Chris Badertscher, Paul Badertscher (Tania Costanzo) Adam, Alex and Sarah; and stepdaughter Elisabeth Woolner (Derek) Evan and Carolyn. Peter is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, David and Lynda Chilton, in Springfield, Illinois; nieces Rita Coleman and Sandra Lund and their families and cousin Iris Obrien in England; and many dear friends in Canada and England. Peter was predeceased by his father, Joseph Albert Walker in 1954; his mother, Doris Ethel Wilkins in 2006; his half sister Josephine Carter in 1995; and his half brother Joseph in 2008. Peter was born in Stratford, east London, England, just as the Second World War began. His early schooling was at the public Grammar School, where he developed a lifelong love for music, acting and travel. When he left school at age 16, he auditioned for and was accepted by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre School. Peter acted throughout the West Midlands in both the theatre and on television, but the need for a steady income led him back to Market Harborough. There he also gave guitar lessons and ran a folk club with friends. Eventually he and two friends formed The Travelling People , enjoying a fair success playing folk music throughout the Midlands. In 1973 Peter immigrated to Canada and, within a year had enrolled at the University of Manitoba as a mature student. He discovered the anthropology department and its subfield of archaeology and was hooked', graduating with a B.A. in 1978 and a B.Ed. in 1979. In 1979, after a few years of working on summer excavations, Peter began Archaeology in Manitoba , a television program on cable channel VPW which lasted for 15+ years. He travelled throughout the province filming archaeology projects and interviewing local archaeologists about their findings. He also co-hosted and appeared in a more generalized, but similar show, Heritage in Manitoba , which lasted for several years. Peter was employed by the Historic Resources Branch (HRB) of the provincial Department of Culture and Heritage. In 1989 he received the Department's first Prix Manitoba Award for his various activities promoting the importance of heritage to the public. He and his wife Pat, who also worked for the HRB, retired in 2004. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 12 at 10:00 a.m. at Thomson In the Park Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Boulevard, with a Reception to follow. Interment will be at St. Andrews on the Red Anglican Church Cemetery. Viewing will be held on Friday, November 11 between 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Thomson In the Park Funeral Home. Flowers are accepted, or memorial donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Ave. or River View Health Centre, 3rd Floor Palliative Wing, 1 Morley Ave., or to a charity of one's choice. Thomson In the Park 925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 09, 2011