Alice May Walton

Jesus came on Palm Sunday to take Alice May Rowland Walton to Heaven. She had been praying for this for a while, and so had her family. Celebrating this joyful event are her children: Sunnie Barkley (Ronnie), Lise Sage (Bill), Robert Lee Walton, III (Rhonda), and Amy Walton Chilton (Eric). She and Bob had eight grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Alice, known to her greats and grands appropriately as “Granny” and “Dodo”, was also nicknamed as the Dancing Queen, famously known to really cut a rug to the lively tune by the group ABBA at all family weddings.

Born in Charleston, MS, on May 1, 1930, she was the daughter of Fonda C. and Edna Rowland. Alice attended Millsaps College where she earned her Mrs. Degree, falling in love with and marrying Bob Walton. After serving in the US Air Force, Bob and Alice moved to Charleston and Bob co-owned Rowland Hardware. He was instrumental in founding the Little League Program and the Charleston Rotary Club. While in Charleston, Bob and Alice were extremely involved in the Methodist Church, especially with the youth, teaching Sunday School, MYF, and carrying out unique entertainment. They planned such fun and unique experiences for the teenagers that some of the events are still remembered today.

In the early 1970’s, they moved to Austin, TX, where Bob received his degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He and Alice served (yes, Alice served as much as Bob did!!) in Arkansas churches in Benton and Clarksville, in Wagoner, OK, and in Sandersville, MS with Alice teaching, leading seminars, and visiting nursing homes with her clown ministry. They retired in Olive Branch, MS.

Ten years ago, Bob and Alice moved to Kirby Pines Retirement Community in Memphis, TN. Alice enthusiastically assumed a major (self-appointed) role to brighten up everyone by spreading butterflies and writing hundreds of happy messages to others all over Kirby. She spent countless hours visiting others who were under the weather, or in rehabilitation, the medical unit, and the Memory Care unit.

She placed some large ornamental frogs outside her apartment door, regularly posting entertaining froggie sayings such as:

• Frog Financial News: Granny Frog wins the national lottery. Promises to buy new “pads” for all her relatives.

• Frog Market News: Sesame Street values plummet today upon the news the Miss Piggy dumped Kermit the Frog.

• To dream the impossible dream, to fight the unbeatable foe, to bear with unbearable sorrow, and to run where other frogs dare not to go…to reach the unreachable star.

Kirby residents got in the habit of frequently visiting her door just to see what the frogs had to say.

Alice lived a life overflowing with love, joy, and quiet ministry, gently uplifting others with hand-written notes, sincere words, and the enduring light of her faith. On Palm Sunday, her long-held prayer was answered, and in the arms of the Father, she entered the peace of Heaven, leaving behind a legacy of encouragement, warmth, and a heart that always made room for others.