Diane Walters

Diane Grams Walters, age 72, died peacefully at Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood, AZ on March 10, 2013 surrounded by her loving family. Diane was born on November 3, 1940 in Winona, Minnesota; the daughter of John and Audrey Grams. She grew up in Winona and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Theresa College, also in Winona. After graduation in 1962, she went to Seattle to the World's Fair to look for a job. She was successful and was hired by Boeing as a computer programmer. A college friend, Dick Walters who graduated from St. Mary's College in Winona went with Diane to Seattle, also in search of a job. They were married later that year. The young couple eventually moved back to Chicago where Dick was from and later to Detroit in 1968. In 1983, Diane and Dick purchased Erickson's Flooring & Supply Company located in Ferndale and three other locations in the central midwestern states. For 30 years, Diane established herself as a successful businesswomen as the owner of Erickson's Flooring & Supply Company with her husband, Dick. Employees of Erickson's Flooring & Supply Company consider Diane the matriarch of the business. Diane's passion was her family and friends. She was always thinking of others and enjoyed mailing greeting cards to everyone she knew in celebration of events and occurrences in their lives. Diane and Dick held a yearly auction of fish and duck decoys on the first Saturday in December at their Ferndale store. The auction benefitted the Old Newsboys Goodfellows of Detroit. Diane is survived by her husband of 50 years, Richard; their four children, Tony Walters, Joan Walters (Eric Griffin), Patrick Walters (Debra) and Rick Walters (Tara); nine-grandchildren, Bill Walters, Christian Bierkamp, Kelly Maheu, Rich Long, Kyle Walters, Halima Walters, Aliya Walters, Kristianna Walters, R. Aidan Walters, and Ashalina Walters; her mother, Audrey Grams Morgan of Winona, MN, her siblings; John Grams (Lynne), Cherre Pye (Dave) and Lisa Grams. a brother-in-law of William Walters (Carol Ann), two sisters-in-law Ann Walters Powell and Carole O'Brien (Leeland); and eleven nieces and nephews; Nancy, Kate, Sean, Tiffany, Lauren, Dustin, Ryan, Jonathan, Meg, Lexi and Colin. She was predeceased by her father John Grams. Memorial visitation will be held on Friday, April 12 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm at the A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Avenue at Vernier Road in Grosse Pointe Woods. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 7:00 o'clock. A memorial mass will be celebrated at 12 noon Saturday, April 13 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 467 Fairford Road at Morningside in Grosse Pointe Woods. In lieu of flowers the family has suggested memorial contributions be made to one of the following: Capuchins, Gerson Institute, or Karmanos Cancer Institute

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236