Catherine Sue Walker died on Dec. 20, 2026, peacefully at home with her loved ones after suffering complications from her second stroke. She was 81 years old.

Cathie was born on a farm in Nebraska to Grace and Dale Pickett; the first of five daughters. She was raised there during her childhood, then the family moved to Glendora, California.

Cathie met the love of her life William “Bill” Walker in 1962 at Mt. St. Antonio Community College. They were married in 1966 in Covina, California, and started their beautiful life together. Bill preceded her in death on Nov. 11, 2012.

One of the smartest decisions Cathie and Bill made was to follow their good friends to Santa Barbara. They lived on West Victoria Street in Victoria Court, and started their family there. Cathie and Bill went on to have three daughters.

Cathie was a devoted mom, this being the main focus of her life. She also worked part time at Chuck’s Steak House as a bookkeeper for many years and greatly enjoyed her time working in the public affairs department of Cottage Hospital. If you ever went to a Cottage Baby Fair, Cathie was the one that enthusiastically made those happen.

In 1984, Cathie and Bill got the chance to take the adventure of their lives. Bill got a job offer to be an auditor for the Navy in Wiesbaden, Germany, and they jumped at the chance to see the world. Cathie and Bill made many special friends as they travelled throughout Europe and even got to live in Nea Makri, Greece for a year.

After their amazing adventures they came back to Santa Barbara, where they lived the rest of their lives. Cathie had many amazing weekend trips with her sisters; those were very special times for her.

Cathie then started her Nana years as her daughters got married and started their families. Being a Nana was one of the greatest joys of her life and she was the best Nana ever. She made every grandchild a special sock bunny and knitted them soft baby blankets.

She was very involved with all her grandchildren and had them over for sleepovers all the time, walked them to school, and even took one of them on a European tour. Family gatherings were the most important thing in her life to her.

Cathie will be remembered for being a loving mom, nana and sister, and for creating special traditions that all her daughters will continue. We miss her and love her so much.

Cathie is survived by her sister Karen Troncale of Tombtsone, Arizona; sister-in-law Cindy Levin of San Francisco; daughters Brigette Nydam, Gretchen Mandel and Melissa Walker of Santa Barbara; son-in-laws Dean Nydam, Dr. David Mandel and Shawn Stolfus; and grandchildren Noah Nydam, Luke Nydam, Chloe Nydam, Aidan Mandel, Ava Mandel and Duke Stolfus.

A small family celebration of life will be held for Cathie in the spring.