Jeannette Freeman Minor Walton, 88, formerly of Woodstock, Virginia, died Wednesday, October 5, 2016, at Winchester Medical Center.
Mrs. Walton was born in 1928 in Englewood, New Jersey, the daughter of the late Charles and Jeannette Minor. She graduated from Dwight-Englewood High School and Wellesley College. Her early career was working with the College Board in New York City. In 1961, Jeanne married M. Lauck Walton III. Mrs. Walton had four children over the next four years whom she raised in their Upper West Side apartment.
She was actively involved at the Unitarian Church of All Souls, serving as Deacon, President of the Board of Trustees, and member of the Women’s Alliance. She was a proud alumna of Wellesley College and at one point worked as Executive Director of the Wellesley Club in New York City. She remained the annual gifts coordinator of her Wellesley Class of 1949 until the end.
Mrs. Walton loved music and regularly attended the NY Philharmonic. She was a natural musician herself, and played piano by ear, most notably at her annual Christmas parties, where homemade eggnog and carols abounded.
After the planned move back to Lauck’s hometown of Woodstock, Virginia, in 1984, Mrs. Walton continued her volunteerism at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley, serving in many capacities, including helping to procure the building where the church now resides. She also volunteered for the Woodstock Library, Woodstock Museum, and Shenandoah County Democrats and was an avid supporter of the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival. Mrs. Walton enjoyed her annual trip to Barbados and loved entertaining at the cabin.
Her husband, Morgan Lauck Walton III, died on February 8, 2015.
Surviving is a daughter, Laura Walton Hirschfeld and husband, Andrew of Glen Rock, New Jersey; sons, Morgan Lauck Walton IV and wife, Linda of Alexandria, Virginia, Charles Lancelot Walton of Strasburg, Virginia, and Christopher Allen Walton and wife, Annette of Aurora, Illinois; and six grandchildren.
Mrs. Walton was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Minor.
All services will be at a later date at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley, in Stephens City, Virginia. Arrangements are being handled by Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Jeanne may be made to Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley, 6380 Valley Pike, Stephens City, Virginia 22655, or Wellesley College, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02481, or to a Charity of Donor’s Choice.
Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com