Madge E. Walko's Obituary
MADGE ELIZABETH WALKO, 85, passed away suddenly on March 2, 2015 after a long illness. She was born the oldest girl of 18 children in November 20, 1929 in Blackshear, GA. She moved to Memphis in 1947 where she met her beloved Bob. Madge is survived by her husband, Robert, of 63 years, daughters Cynthia Walko and Tracy Balton, and grandchildren, Maria Furlong, Angela Yinger, Julia Robin, Jenna Mariano & Vincent DeBacco and 2 great-grandchildren, Lyla & Henry Furlong, who were her joy. She was pre-deceased by 6 brothers. She leaves 11 siblings – Billy Cox, Ellen Clarke, David Cox, Eleanor Sweat, Claudette Parr, James Hendley, Merle Murray, Lamar Cox, Diane Allen, Eva Wingate, and Marie Muniz, who with her husband Joe lovingly cared for Madge for her last 1 ½ years. Despite the physical distance, she and her extensive family always remained very close and have said “If I’m talking, that means I’m still alive”. That was her motto until the very end. Madge was never at a loss for words or lacking in an opinion. She was a passionate woman who demanded perfection from everyone around her throughout her life. She & Bob loved to dance the Jitterbug and in early years, they were quite socially active. Madge’s aggressive nature drove her to tirelessly volunteer for many local and national campaigns within the Republican Party in the ‘60s, where she was a proud member of the Steering Committee. She later become a delegate to the Republican National Convention and attended Nixon’s Presidential Inauguration. An intense political conversation was always welcomed. Forever eager to be a bigger part of something, she was active in the Grahamwood School PTA and Bethany Lutheran Church where she rarely sat quietly but usually took on a leadership role. Madge joined her husband at his CPA firm in 1962. Her passions shifted to work when she later became a CPA and then his business partner. She loved her clients and worked tirelessly for them. Through client associations from Walko & Walko, CPAs, she launched several business ventures to include many restaurants, a pet grooming shop, and a printing service. Although always hard at work, Madge was diligently invested in her daughters and grandchildren, never giving up on any of them, no matter the situation. Her boundless energy instilled in all of them the value of strength, determination, hard work and the eternal bond that is family. They attribute their current successes in life to her influence. She will be dearly missed.Visitation will be held at 1:30 Friday, March 6, with services to follow at 2:30 at Memorial Park, 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN.
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