Hortense A. Tensy Walker

Hortense (Tensy) A. Walker died on May 23, 2012. She was born as Hortense B. Allen in Springfield, MA on December 12, 1919. She graduated from Wellesley College, class of 1941, and earned an MA from Harvard/Radcliff Graduate School. She met Warren F. Walker in graduate school, and they were married on June 24, 1944. After two years in Cambridge, MA, they moved to Oberlin, OH, where her husband taught for 38 years at Oberlin College. On Warren's retirement, they moved to Ossipee, NH, where they had previously spent many summers and also winter vacations. In Ossipee, they were active members of the Water Village Community Church, the Over the Hill Hikers, and the Ossipee Historical Society. Climbing in the White Mountains with family and friends was her passion. Tensy was a life member of the Ladies of the Lake Quilting Guild and served as its secretary for 12 years. She accompanied her husband, who was researching the functional anatomy of vertebrate locomotion, on many sabbatical trips to universities in England, Holland, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and the Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos Islands. Hortense is the mother of two sons, two daughters and had 6 grandchildren. Hortense is survived by her husband, Warren, and children: Ted Walker of Solomons, MD; Hal Walker of Wakefield, RI; and Sue Friedman and Carol Camargo of State College, PA. She is also survived by her sister Nancy Hubbe of Exeter, NH and sister-in-law Ann Allen of Seattle, WA. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 9 at 10:30 a.m. in the Water Village Community Church in Ossipee, NH. Refreshments will be served after the service.