Ila Hinckley Walker

Ila Hinckley Walker was a hardworking, caring and devout wife, mom, grandma and friend. She was born January 24, 1937 in Rexburg Idaho, the 6th of 8 children born to Jesse and Zena Hinckley. She passed away peacefully on November 2, 2023.

Ila’s life was not destined to be conventional. When she was about 5 years old, her family of 10 left Rexburg and moved to Salt Lake, traveling there with the oldest children riding the entire way on a couch in the back of a truck. 

She attended schools in Salt Lake City, graduating from East High School and attending the University of Utah (even though she was always a devout BYU football fan). As a young woman, she also took voice and piano lessons as she pursued her love for music. 

At age 21 she decided to serve a mission and was called to Toronto, Canada with Thomas S. Monson as her mission president. She loved serving under him and would proudly recall that he later performed the marriage sealing when she married Ken Walker on December 29, 1967 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Ken was partially paralyzed in a car accident before he and Ila met. This led Ila to take on some unconventional roles for their new family but she never hesitated and fully embraced their new life together. 

She was a selfless and loving wife and continued to define her own destiny and do extraordinary things like raising 3 children even though many doctors told them they would never be able to have children. 

Ila didn’t wait for things to come to her in life. She was strong-willed and always did what it took to take care of her family and those around her.

Ila could always be found doing things for other people. Her caring nature left an unforgettable mark on the hearts of friends, family, and everyone who crossed her path. She was an avid gift giver and loved finding special things for other people. The excitement and anticipation she had was contagious and made these moments so special.

We will always remember and be grateful for her tireless service to her family. She was always supporting them in their activities. She leaves behind a great example of perseverance. This was further demonstrated in later years when she developed Macular Degeneration and lost most of her vision, but not even that could stop her from continuing to take care of her family. 

She generously shared whatever she had and always had a great outlook on life. She had a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and was excited to know she would be reunited with her husband and family again.

We are grateful to so many family, friends, ward members, and healthcare workers who showed such love and kindness to our parents over many years.

Preceded in death by her husband, Ken, and her grandson, Connor. Survived by her children Brenda (Michael), Jason, Teri (Tony); grandchildren Jared, Alex, Nathan, Kyler, Caden, Amberly (Benjamin), Corey (Charie), Emily, Kale (Breeann), Dallin, Spencer (serving in the Ohio Columbus mission); great-grandchildren Sophie, Miles, Ashlyn. Also survived by her sister, Erma Smith, brothers- and sisters-in-law Gerald Wilkinson, Debbie Hinckley, Dean and Katherine Walker, Alene Walker, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 10, 2023 at 11:00 am at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road, Layton, Utah. Friends may visit with family Thursday from 6 to 8 pm and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 am at the mortuary.

Interment: Lindquist's Memorial Park at Layton, Layton, Utah.

Services will be live streamed and available to view at the bottom of Ila’s obituary page

at www.lindquistmortuary.com where memories and condolences may also be sent to the family.

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