Alberta M. (Curtis) Walker, 96, of Champaign, Ill. and formerly of Edwardsville, died at 4:53 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, 2011 in Danville, Ill.

She was born July 1, 1915 in Steele, Mo., the daughter of the late John Curtis and the late Ethel Mae (Atwood) Schrumpf and adopted step-daughter of the late Robert Marion Ray.

Alberta's father, John Curtis, died before she was born and her mother was remarried to Robert Ray, who adopted Alberta in 1916.

Her childhood was spent being raised by her grandmother Atwood in Ben Davis, Ind.; Madison, Ill.; Jacksonville, Ill.; St Petersburg, Fla.; Cornland, Ill. and finally in Granite City, Ill., where she met her husband Roy.

On Aug. 22, 1931, Alberta was united in marriage to Roy Walker, who preceded her in death on Sept. 4, 1966. They lived and farmed on Walker's Island, which was part of Horseshoe Lake for 23 years.

After an estate sale in 1969, Alberta went to live with her daughter, Betty, in Edwardsville and worked as a cook at the Hitz Home in Alhambra. In 1985, Alberta went to live with her son, Roy Jr., in Champaign.

She was a member of St. John United Church of Christ in Granite City.

She is survived by two daughters, Norma Jean (Roy) Seybert of Edgemont, Ark. and Betty Mae (Marvin) Braundmeier of Edwardsville; and one son, Roy "Chuck" O. Walker Jr. of Champaign; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20 at Sunset Hill Funeral Home, 50 Fountain Drive, Route 157, Glen Carbon, Ill.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2011 at the funeral home with Pastor Michael Marx Sr. officiating.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.herrfuneral.com. or www.sunsethillcemetery.com. Memorials may be made to donor's choice.