William "Bill" Walner was the 3rd of 7 children born to Annie Bukman Walner and Samuel Anschel Walner. The original family name was Vladovsky. Called "Willie" by his siblings, he was a creative soul who wrote poetry and song lyrics, played the banjo, piano and mandolin and was an avid photographer. His parents sponsored the Kayer family, from their hometown in Russia, to come to America. The two families remained close, especially Mollie Kayer and Bill's sister, Rose. As a boy, Bill pushed both girls around the neighborhood in a baby carriage. As Mollie grew older, Bill saw something special in her, remarking to family that he "would marry her when she turned 18." He did just that and they were married in late 1929. Together they owned a haberdashery and later a cut-rate drug store in Norfolk, Virginia.
They tried for many years to have children and eventually had their only daughter, Dorothy Jean, who was born in 1936. Bill was an active, yet a bit overprotective father. He loved his family, staying close with his siblings, Mollie's siblings and later, his only grandchild, Amy. Later in life, he was asked to become comptroller of Mama Kayer's Baltimore Bakery, a job he held for many years. When his beloved Mollie died in 1970, he spent the next few years working, tending her grave and lavishing his attention on his grandchild. The two of them spent much time together and had many adventures. She developed her love of music, especially musical parody from him. Amy was even his date to special social gatherings because he was not ready to date yet. In 1975, Bill married Florence Brenner Bernstein Salzburg, a lovely woman who had been friendly with the Walners for years. For the remainder of his life, Florence ("Nana") made him happy and helped care for him as the lymphoma he had battled for years took its toll. He died a short time after his 75th birthday. His family had thrown him a party and he had the joy of being with most of his siblings, friends, his daughter and granddaughter.
His poems, song lyrics and photographs are part of his enduring legacy, as well as having his only great-grandchild, Noah William Abramson, named for him with both Hebrew and English names. He is a man remembered for his wit, music, and love of family.
They tried for many years to have children and eventually had their only daughter, Dorothy Jean, who was born in 1936. Bill was an active, yet a bit overprotective father. He loved his family, staying close with his siblings, Mollie's siblings and later, his only grandchild, Amy. Later in life, he was asked to become comptroller of Mama Kayer's Baltimore Bakery, a job he held for many years. When his beloved Mollie died in 1970, he spent the next few years working, tending her grave and lavishing his attention on his grandchild. The two of them spent much time together and had many adventures. She developed her love of music, especially musical parody from him. Amy was even his date to special social gatherings because he was not ready to date yet. In 1975, Bill married Florence Brenner Bernstein Salzburg, a lovely woman who had been friendly with the Walners for years. For the remainder of his life, Florence ("Nana") made him happy and helped care for him as the lymphoma he had battled for years took its toll. He died a short time after his 75th birthday. His family had thrown him a party and he had the joy of being with most of his siblings, friends, his daughter and granddaughter.
His poems, song lyrics and photographs are part of his enduring legacy, as well as having his only great-grandchild, Noah William Abramson, named for him with both Hebrew and English names. He is a man remembered for his wit, music, and love of family.
William "Bill" Walner was the 3rd of 7 children born to Annie Bukman Walner and Samuel Anschel Walner. The original family name was Vladovsky. Called "Willie" by his siblings, he was a creative soul who wrote poetry and song lyrics, played the banjo, piano and mandolin and was an avid photographer. His parents sponsored the Kayer family, from their hometown in Russia, to come to America. The two families remained close, especially Mollie Kayer and Bill's sister, Rose. As a boy, Bill pushed both girls around the neighborhood in a baby carriage. As Mollie grew older, Bill saw something special in her, remarking to family that he "would marry her when she turned 18." He did just that and they were married in late 1929. Together they owned a haberdashery and later a cut-rate drug store in Norfolk, Virginia.
They tried for many years to have children and eventually had their only daughter, Dorothy Jean, who was born in 1936. Bill was an active, yet a bit overprotective father. He loved his family, staying close with his siblings, Mollie's siblings and later, his only grandchild, Amy. Later in life, he was asked to become comptroller of Mama Kayer's Baltimore Bakery, a job he held for many years. When his beloved Mollie died in 1970, he spent the next few years working, tending her grave and lavishing his attention on his grandchild. The two of them spent much time together and had many adventures. She developed her love of music, especially musical parody from him. Amy was even his date to special social gatherings because he was not ready to date yet. In 1975, Bill married Florence Brenner Bernstein Salzburg, a lovely woman who had been friendly with the Walners for years. For the remainder of his life, Florence ("Nana") made him happy and helped care for him as the lymphoma he had battled for years took its toll. He died a short time after his 75th birthday. His family had thrown him a party and he had the joy of being with most of his siblings, friends, his daughter and granddaughter.
His poems, song lyrics and photographs are part of his enduring legacy, as well as having his only great-grandchild, Noah William Abramson, named for him with both Hebrew and English names. He is a man remembered for his wit, music, and love of family.
They tried for many years to have children and eventually had their only daughter, Dorothy Jean, who was born in 1936. Bill was an active, yet a bit overprotective father. He loved his family, staying close with his siblings, Mollie's siblings and later, his only grandchild, Amy. Later in life, he was asked to become comptroller of Mama Kayer's Baltimore Bakery, a job he held for many years. When his beloved Mollie died in 1970, he spent the next few years working, tending her grave and lavishing his attention on his grandchild. The two of them spent much time together and had many adventures. She developed her love of music, especially musical parody from him. Amy was even his date to special social gatherings because he was not ready to date yet. In 1975, Bill married Florence Brenner Bernstein Salzburg, a lovely woman who had been friendly with the Walners for years. For the remainder of his life, Florence ("Nana") made him happy and helped care for him as the lymphoma he had battled for years took its toll. He died a short time after his 75th birthday. His family had thrown him a party and he had the joy of being with most of his siblings, friends, his daughter and granddaughter.
His poems, song lyrics and photographs are part of his enduring legacy, as well as having his only great-grandchild, Noah William Abramson, named for him with both Hebrew and English names. He is a man remembered for his wit, music, and love of family.
