Todd Elliot Walker, 38, former Ripon volunteer firefighter, will be memorialized Monday with services at the Northland Road Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints followed by a procession of some 100 fire units taking him nine miles to the Ripon Cemetery.

He was a full-time firefighter/paramedic of the Ebbetts Pass Fire District.  Walker died Monday, Nov. 28, while traveling with his family on French Camp Road in what was described as a profound cardiac event.  In line with California law an off-duty heart attack is presumed to be caused by stress of the job.  Walker was reportedly able to bring his vehicle to a stop to keep it from crashing.

Walker had attended Ripon High School and was a native of Denver, Colorado.  He had served with the Ebbetts Pass department since 2002.  Ripon and Manteca fire departments are both planning to send engines to the memorial.

One of his first jobs was as a clerk in the emergency room at St. Joseph’s Medical Center where he made the decision to become a fire service paramedic.  He first worked as a paramedic for the American Medical Response Ambulance Company and at the same time volunteered with the Ripon Fire Department.

Walker and his wife of eight years Laura, have three children with another child expected in March.  

Ebbetts Pass Fire Chief Dave Blaugher said that as many as 300 firefighters are expected to attend the services on Monday beginning at 1 p.m. with some 100 fire engines.  The memorial, procession to Ripon from the church and the graveside services are anticipated to continue for some two hours, the chief said.

Immediately following the graveside service, those in attendance are invited to a reception in the Cultural Hall back at the church.

The family requests any memorial donations be made to the Walker Children’s Education Fund at the Ebbetts Pass Fire District, P.O. Box 66, Arnold, CA, 95223