March 29, 1939 - October 9, 2020

Paul Walker passed away peacefully Friday morning with family by his side. He is survived by Fern, his loving wife of 59 years. Paul was the beloved father of Jane (Tom), Jill, Julia (Kerry), and Jim, and cherished grandfather of Hayden and Indigo. He is also survived by his sister, Annabell, and his niece and nephews, Krista, Michael and Andrew, and their children.

Paul was born in Halifax to Kathleen Donovan Walker (nee Cassidy) and Herbert Nelson Walker. He spent his childhood in the Mirimachi (New Brunswick) with his two younger siblings – Jim (who died in 2017) and Annabell. He graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Mount Alison University in 1961 and it was there that he met the love of his life, Fern Stonehouse. Their first date was on a sleigh ride, Paul became quite the dancer which was a “job requirement,” made Fern laugh, and the rest was history. They married in 1961, started their family in Moncton, and moved to Ottawa in 1967 where Paul worked for many decades as the Assistant Director of Human Resources with Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Paul and Fern settled in Glen Cairn, where they both enjoyed becoming involved in the community and were founding members of Glen Cairn United Church. They enjoyed entertaining friends and family in their home and at the cottage – and were always up for a party. An avid hockey fan, Paul enjoyed coaching his daughters’ hockey teams for many years. Paul was a lifelong fisherman – learning to fly-fish on the Mirimichi, and enjoying evening fishing on the Big Rideau and later on Mississippi Lake. His taste in music was eclectic – from Big Band to Hall & Oates to Billy Idol – he even correctly answered the tie breaker question to win Disco Trivia on a cruise in 2015! Close friends joined the family on many camping trips over the years to such places as Champlain’s Astrolab. Paul and Fern also loved to travel. Many wonderful times were had on Paradise Island with family and friends and on cruises all around the Caribbean, Mediterranean and European rivers. Paul spoke often and most fondly of their time in Germany with lifelong friends. He even became a cruise agent in retirement to keep his love of travel going.

Paul was a wonderful, fun, gentle man who charmed everyone who had the good fortune to spend time with him. He was and always will be an inspiration to his family, enduring countless medical procedures and battling cancer for 15 years with grace and dignity, a never-ending positive attitude, and his keen sense of humor we all loved so much.

He will be missed so very much, but we are so grateful for him, for the family he and Fern created for us, for all he taught us, and for all of the memories he has left for us.


Due to COVID-19, we are in the process of figuring out how best to remember Paul, and will share those details when plans have been made.

If you would like to send flowers we ask that you send unarranged fresh cut flowers to Fern on YOUR next birthday with a simple note wishing her a happy day – she loves and has a special talent for arranging flowers (in her many appropriate vases) and this will ensure that she has several happy surprises over the next year. If you would prefer to make a donation, please consider The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada’s Ontario Region.