Ernest Dean Walden's Obituary
Ernest Dean Walden, was born on October 16, 1931 in Burr Oak, Kansas, and passed away on March 5, 2018 in Richardson, Texas. He is preceded in death by Wilma and Clare Walden. Ernest is survived by wife, Millicent Walden; and sons, Richard Walden and Robert Walden.After Dean graduated Valedictorian from Ruskin Nebraska High School in 1949, he attended the University of Nebraska and later volunteered for the military draft. His school buddy, Lyle Sorensen and he were inducted into the Army together in 1952. They were with the 7th Armored Division of the U.S. Army during the Korean War stationed in Germany, and spent furlough time in Denmark, France, and Switzerland. After the military, Dean settled in Colorado and worked for Archie Sykes and the Gibson Tractor Manufacturing Company.In 1956, Dean married Irene Payne and they moved to Texas, where he worked for the Formica Corporation. Dean and Irene had two sons, Richard and Robert.In 1962, he started his own cabinet business, Walden Cabinets, in Garland, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, Texas. Most of his work was in kitchen remodeling, which has been featured in industry magazines. He retired from his business after 35 years in April 1997. His son, Richard, now manages and operates Walden Cabinets.In 1978 Millicent Bowden and Dean were married in Las Vegas, Nevada. Millie is a retired corporate technical information librarian having worked at Texas Instruments thirty years before retiring in 1996.Following his retirement in 1997, Dean took up woodcarving as a hobby. He entered pieces into competition at the State Fair of Texas as well as several nationally known woodcarving competitions. Dean won many blue and red ribbons. He continued woodcarving classes for several years and eventually began teaching and mentoring fellow woodcarvers. For other fun times, Millie and Dean took cruises to the Caribbean Islands, Europe, and, or course, they returned often to visit Las Vegas, Nevada.He still made frequent trips to Nebraska to visit his brother Eugene and wife Gwen Walden who live in Omaha, as well as nieces, Jolene and Debra; and nephew, David.The family will receive friends on March 11, 2018 from 3-5 PM at Restland Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held on March 12, 2018 at 11 AM in the Court of Freedom at Restland Cemetery.
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