George Perzell ""Pete"" Walden

George ""Pete"" Walden passed away on April 20, 2013 after a brief illness. His family and friends were by his side as he quietly passed away. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Alyce Walden and his son, Kendall Walden. George was born on July 2, 1931 to George Perzell Walden, Sr. and Vay Walden. He was born in the small town of Plainview, Arkansas where his father was a hard working farmer and his mother a devoted homemaker. He had one brother, Jack Brown and two sisters, Jo Watts and Hazel Brown (Stallard), all three preceded him in death. He graduated from Perryville High School, Perryville, Arkansas in 1949. Sometime after graduating he joined the Army and served in the Korean conflict. After his tour was over, George married Alyce Ann Langston on December 31, 1956. He went to work for Houck Construction where he and Alyce moved from site to site as George operated heavy equipment used in constructing interstate highways in the states of Oregon, Washington and California. In 1965, Alyce gave birth to their only child, George Kendall Walden. In 1970 they settled into their current home in which they have become a mainstay in their community area. At that time, George was an Operating Engineer and was a long time member of IUOE 701. He received his 50 year pin and he couldn't have been more proud. He was also very active in his local churches and he was a fraternal member of the Shriners and the Masonic Lodge in Milwaukie, OR. On a more personal level, George was an avid fisherman and gardener. Both of which he was quick to spread his catch of the day to anyone he knew. Often a person would come home to find a plastic bag filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers or some canned salmon. When you drove past his home, you could see him every summer, with his chair pulled up close to his many blueberry bushes where he would pluck bucket fulls and share them as well. He always had a quick smile and a mischievous grin which would be followed by a great story from his past. He was always quick to lend a hand and give out advice whether you wanted it or not. But everything he did, he did with love in his heart for his family, fellow man and God. He will be sorely missed by many, near and far.