Walton, Kathryn Joan

Kathryn Joan Walton, 80, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Friday, Nov. 22, 2013, at Hemphill Hospice Unit at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, following a courageous battle with cancer. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Kent Landhuis. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Kathryn Joan was born July 1, 1933, on a farm near Lisbon, Iowa, to Archie and Kathryn (Lehr) Lindly. She graduated from Martelle High School in 1951, and graduated from Iowa State Teachers College with a degree in elementary education. She married Albert E. Walton on Jan. 24, 1953. They divorced in 1986.

Joan taught school and worked for many years as city clerk of Martelle, Anamosa and Ely. She worked at The Heritage Agency on Aging at Kirkwood Community College and retired from the Ag Dept. at Kirkwood in 1996. Joan continued to work part-time at Hus Presbyterian Church, Cedar Hills Community Church and the Marketing Dept. at Kirkwood until 2008. Following retirement, she enjoyed meeting with the “Kirkwood Aggie” group for lunch.

Joan enjoyed doing volunteer work at St. Luke's Hospital and with the Right to Read program. She was an active member of Cedar Hills Community Church. Her faith sustained her during times of adversity in her life, especially the loss of her son, Alan, in 2010.

Joan loved nature, tending her flower gardens, animals, decorating, photography, reading, sewing and quilting. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. Her mission in life was to be kind, help others, have empathy for those less fortunate and to make the world a more beautiful place with flowers. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Survivors include her daughter, Karla (Gary) Phillips, Kennesaw, Ga.; her son, Michael Walton, Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Kate and Matt Phillips, Kennesaw, Ga., Eric Walton, Colorado Springs, Colo., Colleen Davis, Roanoke, Va., and Arie and Dixon Walton, Sun City, Ariz.; and great-grandchildren, Jamall, Raheem and Honesti Davis, Roanoke, Va. Also surviving are her sisters, Velma (Dale) Hanus, Marshalltown, and Evelyn (Dale) Filloon, Marion; her nephews, Greg Nelson, Wichita, Kan., and Len Dunham, Newton; her niece, Lori Dunham, Longmont, Colo.; and her close friends, Rose Millis, Shirley Henderson, and Carol Ruedy; and so many dear friends too numerous to mention. Her kitty, Taylor, and her dog, Ardy, were her faithful companions.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Alan, and his wife, Kim.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given in Joan's honor to the Salvation Army or the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

The family would like to thank Dr. Bell, the nurses and staff of Unity Point Hospice, St. Luke's Hospital, for their loving kindness, compassion and support.

Please sign the online guest book for Joan at under obituaries.

Published Nov. 25, 2013, in The Gazette