Obituary of James Dale Walker

James "Dale" Walker, 89, of Twin Falls, Idaho passed away Monday, July 9, 2018 at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, Twin Falls Idaho. He was born on October 6, 1928 to Ivan "Winton" Walker and Bessie "Hazel" Abel Walker. He was born at home in a house provided by the government for those employed to work on the Minidoka Dam project. His father was one such worker. At the age of seven, he and his family moved to the nearby town of Rupert, Idaho. He graduated high school in Rupert in 1946 and Pentecostal Bible Institute in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1949. He married Helen Lucille Herron on June 2, 1949 in Twin Falls, Idaho. Dale began, assisted with, and pastored several churches over the years; most of them affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI). His first assignment was as Assistant Pastor of the Rupert, Idaho United Pentecostal Church. In 1951, he was asked to begin a church in the little eastern Montana plains town of Forsyth. He responded to this call and Helen and his new daughter, Judith (born January, 1951), moved there. After seven years, building and growing the church in Forsyth, he and the family -- now with two children (Jonathan joined the family in March, 1953) -- moved to Billings, MT. During his time in Billings, he assisted with pastoring the Billings church, but his primary efforts went to completing his BS in Education, which he gained from Eastern Montana College of Education (now known as Montana State University – Billings). Along with his degree, he earned his teaching certificate and went on to teach in several elementary and junior high schools in Oregon. He enjoyed teaching school, but pastoring was his primary calling in life. After completing his degree in education, he was asked by his long-time friend and fellow-minister, Edwin Judd, to come to Oregon to pastor a new church being built in Oregon City, Oregon. He and the family moved to Oregon City in 1960. He pastored in the church in Oregon City from 1960 until approximately 1969. It became a flourishing church during his time there and continues to this day. It was in Oregon City their last child, Nathan, was born into the family. Nathan joined the family in March, 1964. In 1967, Dale was asked to take the post as Dean of Academics at a UPCI-affiliated Bible College in Portland, Oregon; Conquerors Bible College (CBC). He served in the role of Academic Dean and Instructor from 1967-1972. The family moved to live on the campus of CBC, and he continued his pastoral work at Oregon City but soon resigned the Oregon City pastorate in order to concentrate his time fully at CBC. While at CBC, one of his summer responsibilities was to help recruit students to the college. He, with Helen and a group of singers who were current students at CBC, crisscrossed the country, singing, speaking and talking with potential students at churches and camp meetings in many cities and states. These "deputational" trips were quite successful in recruiting students to CBC and were instrumental in making CBC not just a "local" school. CBC, at its height, had students from all areas of the country as well as from abroad. Following his time in Portland, Dale pastored several other places throughout the Northwest and he was often called upon to be an interim pastor. In the late 1970's, Dale, Helen and Nathan spent a year or more in Germany, working with the UPCI missionaries, mainly in Wiesbaden, Germany. Dale also held several offices within the UPCI; among them Secretary of the Oregon District of the UPCI. Dale and the family (now composed of Dale, Helen and Nathan – Judith and Jonathan having begun their adult lives), moved back to Twin Falls Idaho in approximately 1979. Though they traveled and provided interim pastoral coverage from time to time, Twin Falls was their home from then forward. His pastoral career took a different direction in Twin Falls: he became a hospital chaplain. This was a role he embraced with enthusiasm. He found great meaning and fulfillment in ministering to those in most urgent need. He was one of the chaplain force in Twin Falls for approximately 18 years. Dale and Helen loved to travel. They traveled to nearly every state within the US as well as nearly every country in Western Europe. They also traveled extensively in South America, Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Australia. Dale was a hard worker. He did many things in life to be able to support his family (since being a pastor rarely provided enough to completely sustain the family). He was not above working at a grocery store as a clerk (Forsyth), teaching school (Oregon), buying and renovating property (Oregon and Idaho). He built several homes; one in Oregon City, one in Twin Falls and renovated others. The house he built in Twin Falls that he and Helen lived in for many years was Helen's dream home. He was very happy to be able to provide her with a place to live that she loved so much. Dale loved to drink coffee and talk with friends or family. He loved to sit contemplating the ocean; whether on a cruise ship or from the beach. He loved classical music and even opera – he would frequently tune into the Metropolitan Opera performances when they aired on the radio. He was an avid stock-market watcher and sometime investor -- he was always looking for good investments. He is survived by his three children: Judith (John) Rapp of Seattle, WA; Jonathan (Diana) Walker of Tucson, AZ; Nathan (Leslie) Enzian of Vashon Island, WA; five grandchildren: Heather (Walker) Kosutura; Nicholas Rapp, June (aka Hillary) Walker, Rhea and Kieran Enzian; two great-grandchildren: Gwendolyn Paige Walker and Natalie Faye Rapp. He loved his family, his community of believers, and his God. Dale was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Lucille (Herron) Walker (May 2010), parents, Hazel and Winton Walker and his two brothers; Harold Walker and Glenn Walker. Services are planned for Monday, July 16 at 10 am at the Rosenau Funeral Home (2826 Addison Ave., E. Twin Falls, ID). Respects may be paid at the Rosenau Funeral Home on Sunday, July 15, 2018 from 3:00 – 5:00 PM. Dale will be buried by his wife at the Rupert, ID (Mar) Cemetery. However, there will be no graveside service.