Mary K. Walton

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Mary K. Walton, who died on her 95th birthday, the 5th of April 2025. Mary Elizabeth Knobelsdorf Walton was born on the 5th of April 1930 to Curtis S. Knobelsdorf and Orphelia Eggert in Houston, where she lived her entire life.

Mary was a cheerleader at Lamar High School, class of 1948, where she met her future husband, Lawrence E. Walton, also class of 1948. Mary and Lawrence attended The University of Texas at Austin where Mary became a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority and married Lawrence in their junior year at UT in 1951. Lawrence graduated first, through the ROTC program at UT and was sent to Korea as an officer, leaving Mary to continue her education. Mary was a true academic, transferring to Houston where she earned her Bachelor of Arts (History and Language Arts) and Master of Education degree (Counseling and Development) from the University of Houston. Mary taught in the H.I.S.D. at the newly opened Robert E. Lee High School and at Holy Ghost Catholic School. Mary then then became the counselor at Mt. Carmel Catholic School.

Mary raised two children, Martha and David, in the Larchmont subdivision where she, Lawrence and the kids met and nourished lifelong friends. Each summer, Mary and Lawrence escaped the Houston heat with their children, taking two and three-week camping trips through the Rocky Mountains-- always with close neighbors and her brother Johnny’s family.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, brothers Johnny and Billy Knobelsdorf and by Lawrence’s parents, Ralph and Lawcile Walton. She is lovingly survived by her husband of 74 years, Lawrence Walton; her daughter, Martha Walton White (Walter M. White); her son, David L. Walton (Susan W. Walton); her grandchildren, Matthew W. White (Audrey P. White), Emily W. Murphy (Seth T. Murphy), Stewart L. White (Kate S. White), Claire W. Day (Tyler J. Day) Michael D. Walton (Allie M. Walton), Benjamin D. Walton (Kirsten V. Walton); her great-grandchildren, Vivienne and Dallas White, Campbell and Jack White, Waylon, Mary Tyler and Bonnie Day, Evelyn and Anne Murphy, Avery and Miller Walton, Peyton and Ella Walton.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with family from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 10th of April, in the Library and Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive, Houston. PLEASE NOTE: Attire is to be Business Casual, as Mary would want everyone to be comfortable.

The family will gather for a private interment at Forest Park Lawndale in Houston.

Please visit Mary’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with her family.