It is with great sadness that I tell you of the passing of Walker Cunningham at 6:30 PM, February 23, 2006. He was surrounded by his wife Pattie, his two sons Crit and Andy, and his sister, Mary V. He passed peacefully. Walker died of pneumonia, brought on by his treatment for pancreatic cancer, which was discovered last Thanksgiving. The only blessing is that he did not have to go through the inevitable discomfort and severe pain that is part of dying with that cancer. Funeral arrangements are being made by Ratterman's, and he will be buried in Elizabethtown beside his parents.

    For those of you who only remember him as the boy selected as "Friendliest" in his senior class and as the manager extraordinaire of varsity basketball and baseball, Walker went on to graduate from Vanderbilt undergrad and UK law. He married Pattie shortly thereafter and they have two great children. Andy has been in tv production and Crit (the 3rd) has followed Walker as an attorney. Walker had a long career as a prosecutor and legal advisor to local government officials, and maintained a successful private practice as well. Early in his career, he was instrumental in getting substantial reforms accomplished in the local criminal justice system. He was active at Beargrass Christian, in the Boy Scouts and was even president of the Waggener PTA. He had a great positive impact on his community and those who knew him. He died too young and will be sorely missed.

    Now, since I am in a melancholy mood, for those of us who take this all in too easy a stride, take a look at pages 96 and 97 of the '61 Lair, the section of "Senior Specials". There were ten boys and ten girls selected. With the recent passing of Walker and Fred Davis, only four of the boys remain. One of the girls is also gone. Life is brief and surely not fair. Please call an old friend, take him or her out to lunch, have a party with classmates, do something to honor the good times, before it is too late. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news and sad thoughts.