Robert A. Walker; Inventor

Robert A. Walker, inventor of aircraft and marine products and owner of Walker Engineering in Van Nuys, has died at a Northridge hospital. He was 71.

A longtime Northridge resident, Walker died Tuesday of complications of a stroke, said his wife, Delma Walker.

Born in Maxwell, N.M., Walker came to California as a teen-ager and graduated from Marshall High School in 1939. He worked as an engineer at Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica until the late 1940s, when he left to open three auto body repair shops in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. He sold the business and started Walker Engineering in the early 1970s. Walker, who held about 10 patents for aircraft and marine products, invented an air filtering unit called the Walker Airsep System that helps diesel engines in planes, ships and motor vehicles run cleaner.

Walker was also part-owner of the Little Lake Duck Club in Northern California.

In addition to his wife of 51 years, Walker is survived by his son Robert A. Walker Jr. of Northridge; daughter Shari Goodgame of Hidden Hills; and five grandchildren.

A funeral is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today at Wee Kirk o’ the Heather, Forest Lawn Mortuary, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., in Glendale. Burial will be private. Forest Lawn Mortuary in Glendale is handling the arrangements.