Virginia Lee (Edwards) Walton passed peacefully from this life to be with Jesus her Savior on Thursday morning, January 19, 2017 at her home in Claremore. She was 102 years of age. Virginia was born April 4, 1914 in Shattuck, OK, the daughter of Leroy Griffin and Bertha Elizabeth (Turner) Edwards. She was raised in Shattuck, did dramatic readings and tap dancing as a child, and graduated from its high school. When she was seventeen, Virginia married the love of her life, Woodrow “Woody” Ronald Walton. They eloped on June 15, 1931…borrowing the wedding ring of Woody’s brother, Rollo, and his wife, Wanda. They moved to Amarillo for six months and then, at age 18, moved to Washington, D.C. in the midst of the Great Depression. Woody hitch-hiked to Washington by himself, gained employment with the Department of Agriculture and in two months had saved money for a train ticket for Virginia to follow him to DC. In the first years of their marriage and prior to becoming a mother, Virginia worked for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, owned a dress shop and was a dance instructor to help put Woody through law school. For the next 17 years they lived in Washington, D.C., Chicago and Kansas City while Woody continued with the Department of Agriculture. Their next stop was in Ft. Worth, Texas for 12 years with Woody in the grain and cotton business. Following a desire to return to his ranching roots, Woody and Virginia returned to Shattuck in 1961 where Woody ranched and was the county judge. They lived there until 2002 when they moved to Tulsa. In 2007 they moved to the Owasso/Claremore area to be closer to family. They had been married almost 79 years when Woody passed away on March 3, 2010. Virginia was a longtime member of the First Christian Church in Shattuck and attended First Church in Owasso during her later years.
Virginia was a model of a Godly woman as described in Proverbs 31 of the Bible. She was adored by her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. She loved the Lord, was very wise, and was faithful in all things good. She had perseverance, unconditional love for her family, strength of character, and a steadfast and calm disposition. She provided a model for Godly living and unconditional love to all who knew her.
From Proverbs 31:
10 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
17 She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
Her family knows that she is more alive now than ever before in the eternal home which has been prepared for her.
Those that survive are her children – Woodrow E. Walton and wife, Joy, of Ft. Worth, TX, Karyl Lee Kline and husband, Jim, of Claremore and Ronald E. Walton and wife, Nancy, of McLean, VA. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren – Stuart G. Walton and wife, Deborah, Delaina Michelle Molzahn and husband, Gary, Kristina Kline Cavanagh and husband, LaMont, Katherine Elizabeth Shumaker and husband, Steven, Kimberli Renee McKillip and husband, Christian, James Joshua Kline and wife, Jennifer, Jonathan Tyler Kline and wife, Tiffani, Jennifer Noelle Hood and husband, Adam, Stephanie Elisabeth Campbell and husband, Brenner and Ronald Christopher Walton and wife, Leslie; 16 great grandchildren – Lindsey Barnett, Bradley Teague, Lillian Cavanagh, Walton Cavanagh, Andrew Cavanagh, Eveline Cavanagh, Nathan Shumaker, Caleb Shumaker, Spencer McKillip, Shelbi McKillip, Isaac Hood, Hudson Hood, Cole Campbell, Clara Beth Campbell, Elise Campbell and Ella Rose Campbell; nephew, Doug Edwards and his son, Dougie Edwards and daughter, Micah Edwards. All hold many cherished memories and were the beneficiaries of her love, care and wisdom.
Besides her husband, Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, and three brothers Harold, Bill and Griff Edwards.
Visitation for Virginia will be held on Tuesday evening January 24, 2017 at Mowery Funeral Service in Owasso from 4pm – 8pm and Wednesday morning from 9am to 11 am. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 25th in the sanctuary of the First Church of Owasso with Pastor Jake Follis officiating. Burial next to her husband will take place on Thursday, January 26th in the Shattuck Memorial Cemetery at 1:00 PM. Prior to the graveside service, visitation will take place at Mason Funeral Home in Shattuck Thursday morning. Those that would like to honor Virginia’s memory in lieu of flowers may do so by giving to the: First Christian Church, 416 South Santa Fe, Shattuck Oklahoma 73858, Church of the Nazarene, P.O. Box 765, Shattuck, OK 73858 or First Church Owasso Stone Canyon, 10100 North Garnett Road, Owasso, Oklahoma
