Ralph W. Walden (AUGUSTA, Ga.)

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Mr. Ralph W. Walden, 87, entered into rest August 22, 2009, at his residence in Augusta. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM, Tuesday, August 25, 2009 in the Mausoleum Chapel of Hillcrest Memorial Park, with Rev. Sherrill Dunn officiating. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6 until 8 at Elliott Sons Funeral Home, Lumpkin Road Chapel. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Edie Gregg Walden; daughters Sandra Sehat of Augusta and Judy Walden of Greenville, SC; son Gary Walden with wife Laurie Anne and grandchildren Aaron and Anna Jane of Charlotte, NC; son Scott Walden of Chapel Hill, NC; grandson David Sehat with wife Connie and great grandson Thomas of Atlanta, GA; granddaughter Leila Sehat with husband Tim Brooks of Matthews, NC. Mr. Walden was born in 1921 and raised on a farm in Arkansas. In 1941 at age 19 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to the Philippines Islands. While serving with the 59th CAC, Mr. Walden was taken prisoner of war by the Japanese in April 1942 and held for 40 months. He was released from captivity in September 1945 and continued to serve in the U.S. Army for twenty three years until he retired in 1964. He was a member of Curtis Baptist Church and the Greater Augusta Chapter AXPOW. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com

The Augusta Chronicle-August 23, 2009