Janet Kathleen Walker

Janet Kathleen Walker, age 90, of Cincinnati, Ohio passed away Friday, July 11, 2025, at Swift Creek Health Center in Cary, North Carolina. Janet was a NICU and ER nurse as well as a loving mother of two daughters. She was a dedicated wife and mother, who was known for her memorable laugh, her passion for nursing, and her caring nature for others. Janet was born to Alphonso Berton and Frances (Berry) Games on March 6th, 1935 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was born with a passion to help others and served that passion by becoming a caregiver for all her life. She graduated from Sardinia High School in 1953 before getting a degree in nursing from Christ Hospital School of Nursing in 1956. Janet then went on to start her career as a third shift nurse at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati working in their neonatal unit. She was a night owl her entire life and was known to enjoy a White Castle breakfast on the way home from the hospital. She was also involved with patient administration and follow-up for Dr. Albert Sabins on the new oral polio vaccine at this time. On June 15th, 1957, she married the love of her life, Joseph Ronald Walker and they were married for 67 years. Janet had two daughters with Joseph and began her life as a home maker. Her eldest daughter, Joyce, was sick at an early age with extreme childhood asthma and allergies, and due to Janet’s extraordinary efforts and care was able to improve Joyce’s health. Once her children were more grown, she later returned to her passion of helping care for others and began work part time in the emergency room at their local hospital and at Planned Parenthood. Janet and Joseph were always passionate about their love for Christ. She was extremely active in Summerside Methodist Church, and loved to travel with their local county senior group; giant bus tours were her favorite vacations. Janet was always very social and loved to visit with her friends and fellow nurses. She especially loved a good card game of Rook; she would make you play until she finally got the rook card no matter the hour, however that could be so she could enjoy a good evening cookie or peanut M&Ms snack. Janet was a loving grandmother, imparting her love of chocolate, animals, bargain shopping, and playing cards. Her baking was well known, making yeast rolls, from a recipe that won a blue ribbon at her county fair, with her granddaughter Jenny and her legendary cream cheese brownies with her granddaughter Nicole. Janet was also known for her mischievous giggle and beautiful smile. Her caring personality drew people and animals to her, especially dogs. She cherished talking about her childhood collie, Rex, and her pony Tony. One of her favorite pastimes was being a spirited bargain hunter. She would meet with family and friends to go shopping, her favorite saying when she found a bargain was: “It’s such a deal! I can’t afford not to buy it!”. She was always a stickler for the fine print on a sale and would make sure that it never passed her by, no matter what. As they aged, her husband, Joe, became very ill with a rare autoimmune disease and she dedicated her life to caring for him. She was able to call on her nursing background to understand his illness and work with his medical team to assist in his care and recovery. All in all, Janet was a passionate mother, caregiver, and wife all through her life. She was a stickler for a good thank you note, and in this, we would all like to say thank you for taking care of us. Janet is survived by her two daughters, Joyce Walker (George) Martin and Nancy Kay (Jerry) Fink; one sister-in-law Henrietta Walker; two grandsons Michael Taylor (Lisa) Martin and Samuel Quincy (Kate) Fink; two granddaughters Nicole Paige (James) Houck and Jennifer Laura Fink; three great-granddaughters Harper Grace Houck, Isabella Lucille Houck, and Jayla Paige Houck; and many loving nieces and nephews; and numerous friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Donald Berry Games, and her husband Joseph Walker. In keeping with her wishes, Janet was cremated. A private graveside service at Wake Memorial Park and celebration of life event will be held at the convenience of the family. Wake Memorial Park is serving the family.

Janet Kathleen Walker

March 6, 1935 - July 11, 2025