Obituary of Sondra L. Walker

Sondra L. “Sonnie” Walker, 69, died Wednesday, October 19, 2016, at her home in Glenmont, NY, after a long illness. She was at peace, surrounded by family members who loved her and whose lives she enriched. Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma on December 9, 1946, Sonnie was the daughter of Ava Lee (nee Ray) Robinson and the late William G. Robinson. The family moved to the St. Louis area when she was a young child. She was an outstanding student and leader at Northwest High School, and she went on to graduate from Southeast Missouri State University. Sonnie earned her master’s degree at Webster University in St. Louis. In 1979 Sonnie married William N. “Bill” Walker, and they moved to Saratoga Springs, NY. Sonnie was the devoted mother of two beautiful children, Jon and Lee. They were her pride and joy, and family life was very important to her. She also pursued a remarkable career in education, which began as an elementary and high school teacher. In 1979, she became Director of Public Affairs for the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities of New York State in Albany. Sonnie next held education administrative positions at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and she simultaneously served as a member and Chair of the Williamsburg-James City County School Board. She later worked as a communications manager for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Hampton, VA. Sonnie concluded her career as Administrative Director for The Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Sonnie is survived by her mother Ava, who resides in Seattle, WA; her husband Bill, who lives in Glenmont, NY; her son Jonathan Melzer (Cindy) of Alexandria, VA; her daughter Lee Helland (Gerald) of Bloomfield, NJ; two sisters, Nancy Conant of Salt Lake City, UT, and Deborah Kahn of Seattle, WA; a brother, Michael Robinson of Bentonville, AR; five grandchildren—Max, Grayson, Cabot, Reese and Ava—and many extended family members and friends. The family wishes to express its appreciation to Dr. Earl Zimmerman and his staff and Albany County Community Hospice staff members for their care and compassion. A celebration of Sonnie’s life will take place in Seattle, WA, on a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sonnie’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association.