WALTER WORTHINGHAM
February 14, 1926 - January 14, 2024
Jesus called and Walter hung up his apron for the final time; his life’s work complete. It is with great sadness and heavy hearts we announce that Walter Worthingham died peacefully on January 14, 2024 at the age of 97 years in Canmore Alberta.
His loving wife Jean, who kissed his cheek and held his hand for over 72 years, deeply mourns his passing along with his children Randy (Catherine), Robert (Kathryn), Donna (Darcy) Morgan, and granddaughter Erica Morgan.
Walter joined his pre-deceased father Nicholas, mother Helena, and brother Jerry in heaven.
At 18, Walter left the family farm and began his next adventure, serving with the Royal Canadian Navy of Canada in 1944. Having been assigned as a cook on Navy ships, after the war he enrolled in formal certified cooking classes. He became a certified Chef de Cuisine with The Canadian Federation of Chefs de Cuisine, launching his dedicated career that spanned 44 years. In 1991 he was honoured as a lifetime member in The Canadian Federation of Chefs and Cooks (CFCC).
Being gifted with artistic skills, Walter competed annually in the CFCC Culinary Arts Shows that ran in Edmonton throughout the 1960’s and 70’s. He won many ribbons for wedding cakes, pulled sugar, ice carvings, sculpting and sandwiches. To complete his career, he worked as an instructor at NAIT in the Department of Culinary Arts for 16 years until his retirement.
He was a very proud member of the Edmonton Accordion Society, and continued playing some of his favourite tunes into the fall of 2023. Walter loved to take Jean dancing and they were active members of the Edmonton Central Lions and Calder Seniors centres, dancing two to three times a week. In retirement, Walter also took up painting and left us a beautiful legacy of his artwork to enjoy.
Walter will always live on in our hearts, on the lips of those who knew him and those who learned from him. We will miss his great smile, tender heart and warm strong hands to hold. We will always cherish his legacy of recipes, paintings and the many fond memories he created in our hearts.
May Walter rest in the loving arms of his Saviour, and be allowed to play his accordion in the Angels Choir.
A celebration of life and inurnment will be held with family and friends at the Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum in Edmonton this spring. Details will be published at that time.
Donations in Walter’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice.
