Mr. Allen Monroe Walker, age 82, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2023. Allen was a beloved father, brilliant storyteller, and meticulous craftsman.

Allen was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Henry Walker and Mattie Ceil Townsley. He grew up in the Collinwood neighborhood, a diverse and strong community where he, along with eleven siblings, was nurtured in his early years.

Shortly after he graduated from Collinwood High School, Allen joined the army in 1959 and was then stationed in the unfamiliar desert landscape of Orogrande, New Mexico. Although he deeply missed home, he gained important work experience and many memories. He enjoyed recounting stories of fighting wildfires, driving Jeeps to the US/Mexico border at El Paso for a fun night out, and watching out for coyotes and mountain lions. He rose in the ranks, becoming a Private Specialist Fourth Class. His experiences in the military reinforced orderliness and attention to detail that would serve him well in the coming years.

When Allen returned to Cleveland after his service, he began working for Boeing making parts for airplanes. Not only did he have the precision and workmanship needed for the job, but the competence and trustworthiness to machine cut washers from the preferred material: gold. He then began a noteworthy career at TowMotor Corporation becoming a foreman and eventually a human resources manager. In this role, he was instrumental in supporting the company’s African American employees. He would spend the majority of his professional career (nearly two decades) as a reliable housing and then building inspector for the City of Cleveland. Drive through Cleveland in any direction and you will most likely pass a house or building he inspected and approved. From Chinatown to Downtown, he worked on a variety of structures but interacting with homeowners is what he enjoyed most. The City called on him to develop demonstrations aimed at helping people maintain their property at a low cost. He eagerly got to work building a model roof and gutter unit as well as a display board with useful tools.

Allen’s talents as a machinist and carpenter were not only professional but also a personal hobby.  After retirement he took a stage carpentry class at Cuyahoga Community College where he enjoyed learning new applications for his skills. He was the most experienced student when it came to basic building and even taught the teacher a few things. Many are familiar with his unique design and construction of decks and porches as well as his beautifully and skillfully handcrafted home furniture. He preferred the space and creativity that renovating entire rooms, basements, and attics afforded him, always adding special touches to moldings, railings and doorways. He had a signature style in his building projects and landscaping was no different. Carpentry and landscaping were his art which he found to be an enjoyable creative outlet.

Allen’s favorite room was the front yard. He spent time developing landscape designs, always exploring new materials and trying out new tools. He was a caretaker and careful observer of nature, often spending his mornings looking onto his backyard from the porch.

His second favorite place to be might have been hanging out with friends and family at The Shop for wholesome conversation and a few beverages. Allen typically maintained a cool demeanor but he also liked to entertain through stories told with a wicked sense of humor, mimicking the voices of unforgettable characters from his life. He cherished time with family, enjoyed a good bass line, and was a well-known car enthusiast with a deep appreciation of the Porsche Boxster. He was intellectually curious and appreciated conversations where he learned something new. Although Allen will be deeply missed, there is comfort in knowing he was unforgettable.

Allen married Barbara Jean Lawson in 1962. He then married Sonji Imani Kenyatta in 1980.

He is preceded in death by his father, Henry Walker, his mother Mattie Ceil Townsley, and siblings, Bernice, Beatrice, Shirley, Ada, Charlie Mae, Betty, Gladys, Carol, Henry Jr., and Norman.

Allen is survived by brother, Ronald Walker; daughter, Tracey Walker; daughter, Stephanie Walker; daughter, Danielle K. Walker; daughter, Jessica K. Walker; son, Jerome Walker; and son, Mark Walker. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Nicole Walker, Valerie Walker, Lauren Davis, Tony Walker, Kenney Walker, Adam Woodard, Taylor Parks, and Jordan Patterson; eleven great grandchildren; and many beloved nephews, nieces, cousins, and longtime friends.