{"id":48432,"date":"2025-07-10T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/?p=48432"},"modified":"2025-07-08T13:16:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T17:16:40","slug":"2025-lambert-days-grand-marshals-don-and-carolyn-walker-honored-for-lifelong-commitment-to-ohio-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/2025-lambert-days-grand-marshals-don-and-carolyn-walker-honored-for-lifelong-commitment-to-ohio-city\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Lambert Days Grand Marshals: Don and Carolyn Walker Honored for Lifelong Commitment to Ohio City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
2025 Lambert Days Grand Marshals: Don and Carolyn Walker<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Village of Ohio City is proud to announce Don and Carolyn Walker as the 2025 Lambert Days Grand Marshals, honoring their deep roots in the community and decades of service and dedication to the town they\u2019ve always called home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don Walker was born in 1948 on Richey Road before his family moved into the Crestview School District during his early school years. By the time he reached high school, the Walkers had returned to Liberty Township, where Don enrolled at Ohio City-Liberty. His parents, George and Edith Walker, were well-known in the area. Carolyn (Kline) Walker was born and raised in the heart of the Village and attended school alongside Don. She is the daughter of Frank \u201cShorty\u201d & Vivian Glattli. Both Don and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carolyn graduated with the Ohio City-Liberty High School Class of 1966.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly after their marriage, the couple began their life together in a modest trailer on Hoffman Street while Don pursued a degree in manufacturing engineering at Tri-State College. He was part of a co-op program that allowed him to work at Federal Mogul while attending school. Don would go on to dedicate 47 years to Federal Mogul before retiring in 2012. He dedicated many years to public service as a member of the Ohio City Board of Public Affairs, actively volunteered his time to support village initiatives, and served for decades as a volunteer for Lambert Days. He continues his civic involvement today as a member of the Ohio City Greenway Project\u2019s \u201cWarrior Trail\u201d committee \u2014 a testament to his lifelong dedication to the betterment of the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carolyn began her career at General Electric in Decatur, where she worked for 12 years before taking on a new role much closer to home \u2014 as a school cook at Ohio City-Liberty. She served in that capacity for 25 years, later finishing her career at Jefferson Elementary in Van Wert. \u201cI fed two generations of kids in Ohio City,\u201d Carolyn said with a smile. \u201cEven today, people still come up to me and call me the school cook.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She is fondly remembered for her delicious baked goods, generously shared over the years during Lambert Days, as well as for the countless hours she devoted volunteering in the event\u2019s kitchen \u2014 a reflection of her enduring commitment to community tradition and hospitality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Walkers raised three children \u2014 Kari (Jeff) Smith, Scott Walker, and Chad Walker. In 1972, shortly after Scott\u2019s birth, they purchased the home they still reside in today. Their family has since grown to include 10 grandchildren and two great-grandsons. \u201cWe love to watch our grandkids play sports,\u201d Carolyn shared. \u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s kept us going.\u201d This year, Don and Carolyn celebrate 58 years of marriage. With a chuckle, Don remarked, \u201cIt\u2019s been the best two years of my life \u2014 I just have to decide which two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked about how Ohio City has changed over the years, the couple fondly recalled a bustling village full of life and activity. \u201cThere was a restaurant, pool hall, two bars, a bakery, three barber shops, and even free movies at the park,\u201d Don said. He also remembered the car lot and the community spirit that surrounded it. Carolyn reminisced about shopping for penny candy at Beach’s grocery store, browsing Kent Blossom\u2019s appliance store and Ash Hardware, and spending her weekly $1 allowance on the latest 45 rpm records at Spitler Appliance Store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They spoke with nostalgia about Bear\u2019s Buffing Shop \u2014 \u201cYou could only see the whites of the boys\u2019 eyes when they walked out of there,\u201d Don joked \u2014 and remembered the nearby \u201cBear Field,\u201d a small airstrip near the old slaughterhouse. Carolyn also shared memories of her Uncle Dale Kline, known to many as the local butcher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don and Carolyn Walker\u2019s legacy is interwoven with the fabric of Ohio City\u2019s history and Lambert Days. Their stories, laughter, and contributions represent the spirit of community that Lambert Days seeks to celebrate each year. The town is honored to recognize their lifelong dedication and warmly invites everyone to join in celebrating their story during this year\u2019s festivities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The schedule for Lambert Days 2025 follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday, July 17:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flea Market\/Tractor Show \u2013 Sun up to Sun Down (E Carmean St.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12:00-5:00 p.m. \u2013 Music: Trevor Howe (E Carmean St.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, July 18:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

COMMUNITY-WIDE GARAGE SALES<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food All Weekend at the Community Building<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flea Market\/Tractor Show \u2013 Sun up to Sun Down (E Carmean St)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1:00 p.m. \u2013 Music \u2013 Jerry & the Originals (E Carmean St)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:00 p.m. \u2013 Steak Dinner (Carryout Available)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5:00 p.m. \u2013 Flag Raising \u2013 Harvey Lewis Post 346; Inflatables & Kid Games<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:00 p.m. \u2013 Texas Hold ’em<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8:00 p.m. \u2013 Music by: Wastin’ Neon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10:15 p.m. \u2013 Fireworks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, July 19:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

COMMUNITY-WIDE GARAGE SALES<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food All Weekend at the Community Building<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flea Market\/Tractor Show \u2013 Sun up to Sun Down (E Carmean St)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8:00 a.m. \u2013 Co-ed Softball<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9:00 a.m. \u2013 Co-ed Volleyball; Car Show Registration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:00 a.m. \u2013 BMM Car Show<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12:00 p.m. \u2013 Inflatables & Kid Games<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3:00 p.m. \u2013 Burnout Registration; Music by: Jeff Unterbrink<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:00 p.m. \u2013  Hog Roast Dinner (Carryout Available); BMM Burnout Competition<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5:00 p.m. \u2013 Bingo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:00 p.m. \u2013 Music by: Ryklee & The Most Likely<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday, July 20:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

COMMUNITY-WIDE GARAGE SALES<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food All Weekend at the Community Building<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:00 a.m. \u2013 Chicken Dinner (Carryout Available); Music by: Mike & Dan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12:00 p.m. \u2013 Inflatables & Kid Games<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1:45 p.m. \u2013 Parade Line-up<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3:00 p.m. \u2013 Lambert Days Parade<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See Ya in 2026!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Village of Ohio City is proud to announce Don and Carolyn Walker as the 2025 Lambert Days Grand Marshals,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":48433,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,1395],"tags":[26274,26273,7740,26275,10774,19440,5108,26276],"class_list":["post-48432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-entertainment","tag-crestview-school","tag-don-and-carolyn-walker","tag-grand-marshals","tag-harvey-lewis-post-346","tag-lambert-days","tag-liberty-township","tag-ohio-city","tag-wastin-neon"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Walkers.jpg?fit=666%2C558&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2YQd9-cBa","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-15 18:49:54","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48432"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48434,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48432\/revisions\/48434"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}