Arlen Eugene Tooker
Marriages
Helen Hann - April 26, 1951
Obituaries
Arlen Eugene Tooker,
91, a longtime resident of
Uravan, Nucla and Grand
Junction, passed away
at his home on February
21, 2023. He was born
March 24, 1931, the first
of ten children, to Clarence Truman and Arleen Mae
(Edwards) Tooker in Crestone, Colorado. His family
moved to Sunshine Mesa near Hotchkiss in 1942 where
he attended local schools, graduating from Hotchkiss
High School in 1950. He was involved in several sports,
earning awards in boxing, wrestling, baseball, track and
football. He was very proud to be a member of the All-
State football team of 1949.
On April 26, 1951 he married his high school
sweetheart, Helen Hann, of Hotchkiss, in Grand
Junction and in 1952 he was called to serve our country
as a medical corpsman in the Korean War. After he
was honorably discharged from the Army in 1953, he
and Helen moved to Uravan where they started their
family. Arlen worked in the uranium mill and Helen
taught in the elementary school. In 1969 they moved to
Nucla, eventually relocating to Grand Junction in 1988.
Helen, his wife of 57 years, passed away in August 2008
following a short illness.
Arlen worked for Union Carbide for 38 years, starting
as a laborer eventually becoming a mill foreman. After
retiring from Union Carbide, he started a second career
as a mail carrier, traveling round trip from Grand
Junction to Norwood, eventually retiring at the age of
86. In his younger years he enjoyed hunting, fishing,
rock hounding and bowling. In his retirement, he
enjoyed puttering around in his yard, tending a small
vegetable garden and flowers. He also enjoyed reading
local newspapers every day and following his favorite
sports teams.
Arlen was preceded in death by wife Helen, parents,
two brothers, Ed and Truman and one sister Mary (Birdie)
Vaughn. He is survived by daughters Beckie (Garry)
Davis of Fruita, LeeAnn Tooker (Steve Thurman) of
Grand Junction; sons Rodney (Julie) of Palisade and
Duane (Caroline) of Nucla; 12 grandchildren, 29 great-
grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. He is
also survived by three sisters Frances Leuallen, Betty
Jean Switzler and Marleen Shuss; three brothers Tom,
Bob and David, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Other special people in his life include foster children,
Eli Notsinneh, Danielle Wells, Kenneth White and their
families.
He was a good husband, father and grandfather as
well as a friend to many. He will be missed.
