Rita Walton

Rita A. Herrity Walton (1928-2013) CEDAR FALLS- Rita A. Walton, 85, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died at Sartori Memorial Hospital on July 21, 2013 of natural causes. Mrs. Walton was born March 25, 1928 in Clinton, Iowa, daughter of Dr. Thomas H. Herrity and Ruth (McClintock) Herrity. She married Donald R. Walton August 22, 1952 at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Clinton. Mrs. Walton graduated from Saint Mary's High School in Clinton in 1946, received her Bachelor's degree from Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa in 1951 and attended graduate school at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. She held teaching positions with Lost Nation and Clinton Pubic School Systems as well as with University of Northern Iowa where she served as a mentor for student teachers in the Waterloo and Hudson Public Schools. She was also a homemaker and mother to five children. For over twenty-five years she served as a substitute teacher in both the public and parochial schools throughout the Cedar Valley area. Her Catholic faith, family and friends were the center of her life. She was active in the Rosary Society, Archdiocesan Council of Women, the Saint Patrick Church Prayer Chain and Craft Club. She was a frequent contributor to the Waterloo Courier's Letters to the Editor. Survivors include her husband of Cedar Falls; two sons, Raymond (Jacqueline) Walton of Waterloo, IA and Thomas (Lori) Walton of Waukee, IA; three daughters, Ruthanne (Jon) Weispfenning of Minnesota City, MN, Regina (Wayde) Blumhardt of Waterloo, and Jacqueline (Jeffery) Jorgensen of Cedar Falls; fourteen beloved grandchildren: Michael (Lisa) Weispfenning of Washburn, WI, Katherine (Josh) Wittenberg of Saint Paul, MN, Joanna (Chris) McCord of Minneapolis, MN, and Daniel Weispfenning of Menomonie, WI, Christopher Walton of Cedar Falls, Kyle Walton of Waterloo, Kase Walton of Iowa City, IA, Sam and Jayne Blumhardt also of Iowa City, Benjamin, Zachary, and Timothy Jorgensen of Cedar Falls, and Nathan and Caroline Walton of Waukee. Mrs. Walton is also survived by two great grandsons, Calvin Michael and Roland James Weispfenning of Washburn, WI; and two brothers, Richard (Dee) Herrity and Gary (Jeannie) Herrity, both of Clinton, IA; and a sister, Barbara (Leo) Kemper of Anoka, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Eugene (Florence) Herrity and James (Margret) Herrity and two sisters, Joan (Dave) Baumeister, and Carol Coryn. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Patrick Catholic Church with burial in Greenwood Cemetery, both in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Richardson Funeral Service, where there will be a 4 p.m. Rosary and 7 p.m. Vigil Service. Visitation also for one hour prior to Mass, Wednesday at the church. We have loved her during life. Let us not abandon her until we have conducted her by our prayers into the house of the Lord. Memorials may be directed to Saint Patrick Catholic Church Social Concerns Committee, Columbus High School or Birthright, in lieu of flowers.

Rita Walton

March 25, 1928 - July 21, 2013