Rose Walton

January 13, 1933 - December 1, 2011

Rose Marie Walton, 78, formerly of Corvallis and Albany, died Thursday. Rose was born to Clara L. Heinz and Joseph L. Durst in Lebanon, where she grew up and went to school. She married Paul Walton in September 1950 in Vancouver, Wash. Rose and Paul spent a short period of time working for Paul’s dad in Monmouth before they settled in Corvallis. Rose lived there for 51 years before buying a house with her daughter in Albany. In 2010 they moved together to Tacoma, Wash., for her daughter’s medical residency program. Rose was an extremely giving, loving, kind and patient soul who was never afraid to lend a helping hand to any of her friends, family or neighbors. She touched the lives of many. She did many odd jobs throughout her years. She worked several years as the assistant manager in the trailer court on 53rd Street, earning the family’s rent. She sold Avon for a few years; she babysat many neighborhood children; and she shared a paper route with her daughter for 21 years. Rose was a member of the Oregon State University Home Extension Club in the 1970s. She was actively involved in Camp Fire Boys and Girls as a leader to her daughter’s group for 11 years. She was also a Camp Fire day camp counselor, and went by the appropriate camp name of Coffee (her favorite drink). She also collected money for the March of Dimes for many years. She was an avid reader, and especially enjoyed reading and owning every book by Ann Rule. In earlier years, she loved riding her bike, and put on many a mile in the Corvallis area. She was a 23-year survivor of breast cancer. She recently returned to Oregon to visit her sisters, which she enjoyed very much. Rose was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, after 44 years of marriage. She is survived by her two sisters and best friends, Dee Kennel of Bend and Barbara Marrs of Corvallis; three children, Terry Walton of Allen, Texas, Mike Walton of Anchorage, Alaska, and Kristy Walton of Tacoma; grandchildren Steven Walton of Allen, David Walton of Tulsa, Okla., and Tracey Kimm of Plano, Texas; great-granddaughter, Jocelyn Kimm; and her cat of 14 years, Topper. A viewing will begin at 11:30 a.m. today, Dec. 6, at DeMoss-Durdan Funeral Home. The funeral will commence at 1 p.m., followed by a brief graveside service at Oaklawn Memorial Park. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Attn: Donor Services, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309; or to CARDV, P.O. Box 914, Corvallis, OR 97339.