Lenora Groesbeck Walters Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Lenora Groesbeck Walters Lenora was welcomed into this world by her loving parents, Howard and Gladys Groesbeck, and a happy and tolerant 4 year old brother, Earl, on March 9, 1919, in Gooding, ID. Following moves to Caldwell and Boise, the family settled in Cathlamet, WA where her father managed the telephone office and she fondly remembered operating the switchboard. Although she suffered from polio as a young girl, she had an active childhood; biking around town and the surrounding area and swimming in the Columbia River. After graduation in 1938, she attended WSC in Pullman, majoring in speech. She pledged the Alpha Gamma Chapter of Sigma Kappa and was a faithful member for 75 years. It was at WSC that she met the love of her life, Stanley Walters. They were married on Christmas Day, 1940, in Seattle. Moving to Puyallup in 1942, she and Stan began their involvement with the community, volunteering in many capacities, from PTA to church activities at the Presbyterian Church. They established and operated a nursery/bulb farm there until their retirement in the late 70s. Lenora assisted Stan with the nursery while raising their three children, Linda, Mary, and David. She was Secretary/Treasurer for the WA State Nursery Assoc. for 10 years and wrote a column for the Amer. Assoc. of Nurserymen for many years. She and Stan hosted several Japanese Agricultural Students, received an Honorary Life Membership in WSNA and in 2000, they were the recipients of that organization's Pioneer Award. A creative artist and eager learner, she was a long time member of the local Arts and Crafts organization and the Naomi Ch. # 13 of Eastern Star in. She belonged to the garden club and several study groups, and as an “empty nester,” she completed her book of poetry, Sunlight and Shadows in 1980. In their retirement, Stan and Lenora traveled extensively in Asia and Australia. They never tired of making new friends, often not hearing English spoken by others for weeks. In addition to traveling, they completed the construction of their summer home in Goose Prairie, WA and were proud to be able to create the Walters Family Scholarship at WSU. After Stan's death in 2001, Lenora continued her activities as much as she was able, made an overseas trip to Europe (a first) to visit her granddaughter in The Netherlands, and moved to Garden Oasis in Ephrata. She made new friends, stayed involved with AL activities, and sang in the choir at the Ephrata United Methodist Church for 5 years. After a stroke in 2010, she resided in the long term care facility at CBH where she became a favorite of the staff and was known known for her graciousness. She passed away peacefully there on May, 26, 2015. Lenora was preceded in death by her loving husband, Stanley W. Walters, and her granddaughter, Merri Melind Challender. She is survived by her children whom she dearly loved: Linda (Jerry) Butler of Bellingham, WA, Mary (Lonny) Holleman of Ephrata, WA and David (Betty) Walters of Lake Oswego, OR; her 6 grandchildren of whom she was most proud: Merri (Ro) Alvarez of Spanaway, WA, Ann(Maarten) Buijsman of New Orleans, LA, Scott Holleman and partner Dhawal Goradia of Seattle, WA, Jill Holleman of Ephrata, WA, Jeff (April) Walters of West Linn, OR, and Mari (David) Barker, of Portland, OR. Also surviving her are 7 great grandsons and 1 great great granddaughter. Lenora will be remembered by all as a warm and caring individual, always eager to learn, and most willing to share her creative abilities whenever she could. She will be greatly missed by all who had the honor and privilege of knowing her. Services will be held at the Ephrata United Methodist Church, 117 C St. NW, on Saturday, June 20, 2105 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a favorite charity in Lenora's memory, or to: First Presbyterian Church 412 W Pioneer Ave. Puyallup, WA 98371 United Methodist Church 117 C St. NW Ephrata, WA 98823

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Lenora Groesbeck Walters

March 9, 1919 - May 26, 2015