Margaret Louise Drake Walter

Margaret Louise Drake Walter, 91, of New Braunfels, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at the Elan Westpointe Memory Care Unit. She was born to Earl and Bessie (Fisher) Drake in Rosebud, Texas.

She is survived by son, Dale M. Walter and wife Jan of Georgetown, TX; daughter, Diana J. Thomas and husband Thomas of Baton Rouge, LA; and daughter, Donna L. Huser and husband Mike of New Braunfels. She is also survived by her grandson, Dr. Ryan K. Walter and wife Andrea of College Station, TX; and her great-grandchildren, Carson Walter, Cameron Walter, and Connor Walter of College Station, TX. She will be missed by her loving dog Hannah, her “Grand Dogs” Hayley, Reilly, Libby, and Sparky along with her “Grand Parrot” Petri who says “Hi grandma” whenever the telephone rings. She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews and a host of wonderful friends from as far away as Arkansas, Ohio, and Illinois.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Arthur James Walter; her sister, Kathryn Drake Fry, her brother, Maj. Vernon Cecil Drake; and her only granddaughter, Tracey Walter.

Although born in Rosebud, TX, due to her father’s profession as a construction superintendent the family moved around the state of TX and eventually the work brought them to San Antonio where she graduated from Breckenridge High School. She met her husband; Jim when she was quite young, and when she turned 18 Margaret packed her bags, bought a train ticket, and moved to Washington D.C. where she worked for the U. S. Government. Margaret and Jim married in San Antonio, TX where they raised three children. Margaret was fortunate enough to be a stay at home mom due to Jim having a good job working for the San Antonio Fire Department. With Margaret not having to work this allowed her to participate in PTA activities with her two oldest children and often times she would volunteer as Room Mother. When her youngest daughter entered first grade, Margaret went to work at Woodlawn Elementary in the SAISD as a Library Assistant. A job she adored and held for 30 years. Shortly after retiring she moved to New Braunfels, TX in order to be closer to her youngest daughter and husband. Margaret loved to travel and she was lucky enough to travel to the Holy Land, all over Europe and the United States. She really enjoyed traveling with her son and wife to watch her grandson play baseball for the University of Houston, and TCU. She was able to enjoy traveling to Austria with her youngest daughter, and she also enjoyed a trip to Indiana with both daughters along with many family trips. Her entire immediate family was able to take a cruise to Alaska to celebrate her 80th birthday, and her last family trip was a few years back to Port Aransas where she had a great time watching her three great grandchildren swim in the pool and play in the sand and in the ocean as well. Margaret loved her family and her friends and enjoyed spending time with everyone.

After moving to New Braunfels; Margaret joined the First United Methodist Church where she was an active member in Mary Circle of United Methodist Women.

When her husband was alive she was an active member of the International Association of Fire Fighters Ladies Auxiliary where she held many local, state and international offices. Margaret was also one of the first women to receive the “Stone Cutter’s Award” from the Texas State Fire Fighters Association.

The family would like to thank the staff of Elan Westpointe Memory Care Unit for the extreme outpouring of love and care they have provided to Margaret. She was the first and only memory care resident at Elan for several months and it was during that time where Margaret learned how to talk again, feed herself finger food and of course the most important course in every meal to her, dessert. When the staff at Elan informed Margaret that another resident was moving in and this new person was a man, she decided it was time for some facial powder and lipstick to brighten up her face.

The family would also like to thank the staff at Kindred Hospice from San Marcos, TX who have provided phenomenal care to Margaret for the past year, and helped to took care of her every need alongside the staff at Elan.

Public Visitation will begin 5:00 PM Sunday, April 23, 2017 at Zoeller Funeral Home with a Memorial Service given by Roberto Cepeda, M. Div./Chaplain/Kindred Hospice which is set to begin at 7:00 PM. A Graveside Service will be held 9:00 AM Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions may be given to Kindred Gentiva Hospice Foundation which can be located at gentivahospicefoundation.org, or United Methodist Women earmarked for Mary Circle in Margaret’s memory and mail it in care of First United Methodist Church of New Braunfels, or the charity of one’s choice.

In honor of Margaret’s job as a Librarian Associate for 30 years and sharing her joy of reading to children, the family asks that you take some time and read a book to a child, read a book on your own, or visit your local public library and check out a book in her honor.