Thelma I. Walton

Thelma Irene Walton of Warsaw, Indiana passed away at Grace Village Health Care in Winona Lake, Indiana at 4:25 a.m. on Friday, March 29, 2024, at the age of 85.

She was born on September 27, 1938, in Goshen, Indiana to Clara Edna (Stull) Comstock and James Francis Comstock.  Thelma grew up in Elkhart County, Indiana and attended Goshen High School and graduated from Ivy Tech.  At the young age of 17, Thelma married Carroll Leroy Walton on February 9, 1956.  They celebrated 64 wedding anniversaries before Carroll passed away on August 26, 2020. 

Thelma was the beloved cook and dietitian at Lakeland Loving Care in Milford, Indiana for 18 years where she oversaw thousands of meals prepared with care for the residents and staff.  For many high school students, Thelma was their first boss.  She hired many area students to work part time in the kitchen and dining room and she always made sure things were done properly.  Later she worked as the dietary manager at Kosciusko Community Hospital in Warsaw for over fifteen years, greeted everyone with a smile and she genuinely enjoyed people. 

She loved worshiping her Lord at New Salem Church of the Brethren in Milford.  Thelma was an avid reader and loved history, dolls, flowers, and of course watching the beautiful birds wherever she happened to be.  Another favorite pastime was watching the activity on the lake when she lived on Little Barbee Lake.  Over the years she lived in Syracuse, Pierceton, and Warsaw and appreciated getting to know her new neighbors.  Thelma was a long-time member of ALANON and volunteered at the Kosciusko County Jail Museum for many years.  More than anything, she dearly LOVED spending time with her family.  Thelma treated all of her grandchildren equally and lovingly but made sure to treat each and every one of them in their own special way.  She touched many lives during her 85 years on this earth and will forever be remembered as a great mom, wonderful grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend to many. 

She leaves behind her son, James “Jim” (Gaye) Walton (Battle Creek, MI); two daughters, Janet (Roger Bruce) Walton (Warsaw, IN); Julie (the late William “Bill”) Green (South Whitley, IN); ten grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers, Elmer, Joseph, Earl, Edwin, sister Lucille, and her son-in-law, William “Bill" Green.

Thelma’s life will be celebrated with a service at 12:00 noon on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana and officiated by Pastor Layne Sumner.  Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 – 12:00 p.m.  A graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Milford Cemetery in Milford, Indiana. 

Memorial donations may be directed to the American Cancer Society, 5635 W 96th St Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46278.  

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