IN MEMORIAM
Former TFA Vice President Malcom Walker passed away March 3, 1998. Many of us who have visited Braintree remember Malcom as a quiet, gentle, helpful man. Long time friend and former TFA Secretary/Treasurer Raymond Alexander (Rick) Thayer sent me Malcom's obituary which I sadly report to you.
The Patriot Ledger, Thursday, March 5, 1998. Braintree-Malcom Chandler Walker, 76, of Braintree, a naval architect for Bethlehem Steel and General Dynamics at the Rore River shipyard in Quincy and a Braintree civic leader, died Tuesday at his son's home at Newton, Conn.
Mr. Walker was a registered professional engineer in Massachusetts and an expert on the stability of commercial and naval vessels. He was a leader of the design team that developed the USS Bainbridge, the first nuclear-powered frigate in the Navy.
He received a commission in the Navy at the University of Notre Dame Midshipman School in 1943 and served during World War II at the Boston Naval Shipyard. There, he supervised the construction and repair of naval vessels. He served again during the Korean War when he was stationed at the Bureau of Ship in Washington, D.C.
Upon his retirement in 1983, Mr. Walker became a full-time volunteer at the Braintree Historical Society. A life member of the society, he held the offices of president, overseer and historian. He was the first recipient of the Gilbert L. Bean Award for devotion to the society in 1985.
From 1974 to 1976 he supervised the design and construction of the Mary Bean Barn and Museum. Twenty years later, he supervised the design and construction of the Mary Bean Cunningham Historical Resource Center. He was an expert on ice harvesting and lectured throughout the state.
Mr. Walker also served as chairman of the Braintree Historical commission and co-chairman of the Braintree 350th Celebration Committee. He was a former town meeting member.
He was president of the All Souls men's Club and a senior deacon and senior Eagle Scout at the First Congregational Church.
He had been a cooperator and trustee of the Braintree Savings Bank and a director of the Bank of Braintree.
The South Braintree Board of Trade presented him with its Community Service Award in 1996 for many years of untiring and dedicated service to Braintree. He received citations from the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Braintree Selectmen and the historical society.
Mr. Walker was a member of many organizations, including the Holbrook Historical Society, Quincy historical Society, hull Lifesaving Museum, Bay State historical league, ice Harvester Historical Association, International Naval Research organization, Thayer Families Association, Alden kindred of America, Mayflower Association and the Thayer Badminton Club.
He was born in Weymouth and graduated from Braintree High School in 1939 and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1943.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Barbara Mandigo Walker; as son, David Malcom Walker of Newton, Conn., a daughter, Elizabeth Walker St. Clair of Gainsville, Ga., four grandchildren and four cousins.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Congregational Church, 12 Elm St. The Rev. Robert J. Ripley will officiate. Burial will be in the Blue Hill Cemetery.
Visiting is from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Mortimer N. Peck Funeral Home, 516 Washington St.
Donations may be made to the Braintree Historical Society, 31 Tenny Road, Braintree 02184-6512.
Many of us will remember Malcom as the one giving tours of Thayer House in front of the Braintree Historical Society. Arrangements have been made for tours of the Sylvanus House on June 27th beginning at 9:00 A.M. and continuing as long as there are people that want to go through the house. Cost will be $5 per person. This been set up to coincide with TFA Reunion and Annual Meeting in Braintree.
