Ursel Martha Edith "Kitty" Walker

Ursel Martha Edith “Kitty” Walker

Rancho Cordova, CA – Ursel Martha Edith “Kitty” Walker, 89, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in her home in Rancho Cordova.
Kitty was born December 19, 1936, in Berlin-Schoneberg, Germany, to Gertrude and Max Urban. She grew up, attended school there, and worked in a butcher shop. Kitty met her future husband, Leonard, a US army soldier working on the Operation Berlin Airlift. They were married on March 9, 1955 in Bruchkobel, Germany. They would have celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary this month.
For the next 31 years, Kitty was a military wife who traveled the world with her husband and kept the home fires burning while raising four children.
After settling in Rancho Cordova, CA, Kitty volunteered at Operation Santa Claus at the Sacramento Army Depot, sorting through donated clothes, and preparing meals until its closure. She also volunteered at Cordova Lane Elementary School while Pamela attended helping in the library and classrooms.
Kitty was a mother to stray cats and animals. She loved gardening. She babied her orange tree, lemon bush, roses, and gardenias. Kitty especially enjoyed competing with her husband Leonard to see who could raise the best tomatoes.
She was a loving soul who put herself last to take care of others. Kitty loved having people come over to the house to talk to and cook for. She put her knowledge of American and European dishes to work in preparing savory, delicious meals. Kitty was a “foodie” long before the term was coined! One of her favorite questions was, “What are you going to have for dinner?”
Kitty’s enduring legacy of love and kindness gracefully continues to inspire her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, and four-legged companions, leaving a heartfelt and lasting impression on everyone who knew her. Forever in our hearts and thoughts.
She is survived by her loving husband Leonard; son Leonard Jr. (Lisa); daughters Patricia Ursel Hilton (Jim), Barbara Ann Matteson (Richard), Pamela Lee Walker (Steve); Grandchildren Dawn Swenson-Boroff (Joshua), Jessica Walker (Keri), Michael Walker (Alyssa), Carey Strangeway (John), Rachel Michael (Jason), Justin Matteson (Michaela); fifteen great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law Pat Walker; several nieces and nephews.
Kitty was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Doris and Vera, and her grandson Christopher Hilton.
Celebration of the Life of Ursel “Kitty” Walker: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 2 PM at Green Valley Mortuary & Cemetery, 610 Coloma Street, Folsom, California. To view a livestream of the service access:
Interment will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Olathe, Kansas.
In lieu of plants or flowers, memorials are preferred to the Shriners Hospital for Children or The Humane Society.