Community invited to celebrate Ace Walden’s 100th birthday

A boxcar from California brought Amidee “Ace” Walden to Coeur d’Alene in 1911, the same place this well-known resident plans to spend his 100th birthday on Thursday.

The public is invited to a birthday celebration Friday at the Coeur d’Alene Resort from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Walden started his career at age 6 selling newspapers. When he was 23, he wrote a 300-word essay on why he wanted to work for American Trust Co., landing his first banking job as part-time bookkeeper/custodian/messenger. He retired 42 years later, a vice president of Idaho First National Bank.

Walden was a member of the Rotary Club and the Coeur d’Alene Area Chamber of Commerce, and a founding member of the nonprofit North Idaho College Foundation.

Along with his wife, Ellen, Walden volunteered for Kootenai Medical Center. The Walden House, a nine-bedroom home that provides low-cost lodging for hospital outpatients and their families, was named in honor of the Waldens.

The couple met in first grade, in 1913. Ellen Walden died in 1991.

Walden got the nickname “Ace” in 1934 when he made a hole-in-one at Hayden Lake Country Club.

For more information, call Kootenai Medical Center at (208) 666-2355.