Theresa Walker

Theresa Ann Bartling Walker, 60, of Alton, Ill., died Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011.

She was born in Cape Girardeau, and later moved to Alton and attended Alton public schools before graduating in 1968.

Theresa later moved to Florida and worked as a 911 operator for the St. Petersburg Police Department for years. She loved her job. She found it fulfilling and challenging. Theresa was a very talented woman when it came to crafts and was well-known for her intricate cross stitch and quilt work.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Virginia Bartling; and a brother, Stephen Ervin.

Survivors include a daughter, Jolee Walker Oder; a son-in-law, Stephen Oder; a son, Deen H. Walker; a daughter-in-law, Cindy Walker; and best friend/sister since high school, Janet Watt.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Open Door Fellowship in Alton.

A smaller service will be held in St. Petersburg and will be announced at a later date.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The National Kidney Foundation as a memorial gift in the name of Theresa Ann Walker at www.kidney.org/support/makegift/index.cfm.

Spry Funeral Home of Huntsville, Ala., is assisting the family.