Merilyn Sue Walton

Merilyn Sue (Pinson) Walton was born in Huntington, West Virginia on November 16, 1946, the daughter of the late Willa (Rathbun) and Mart Pinson. She passed from this life on December 29, 2025, in Nacogdoches, Texas. She was 79 years of age.

Merilyn graduated in 1964 from Ashland Paul Blazer High School in Ashland, KY, and then went on to graduate from Georgetown College, Georgetown, KY and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY with a master’s degree in religious education and social work. She also studied language in Pueblo, Mexico and Tours, France.

Merilyn lived in many places including Mexico, Liberia, France, Upper Volta (Burkina Faso), Cameroon, Zaire (Congo), Mauritania, Swaziland, Eritrea and Montenegro. She accepted her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and was baptized at Wildwood Baptist Church (SBC) in Ashland, KY. Later as a young teenager, she felt called to be a Missionary in full time Christian work. Merilyn served as a Missionary Journeyman with SBC in Greenville, Libera, was a Case Worker for Kentucky Public Assistance, and a Missionary with SBC in Ouagadougou, Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) where she met the love of her life—Max Walton. She also ran the U.S. Commissary in Kinshasa, Zaire (Congo), worked in Brazzaville, Congo and served as School Principal in Nouakchott, Mauritania. “WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.”

Her hobbies and main interests included flowers, entertaining, and her friends. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Nacogdoches, the Floria Garden Club, Old University Building, The Nacogdoches Branch of the American Association of University Women (where she was named 2024 Woman of the Year), member of Kappa Delta Sorority, Nacogdoches Retired Teachers, Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce, the Republican Women’s Club, Bridge Groups, and Nacogdoches Newcomers and Friends. She loved to entertain, organize and be in charge, and her motto was, “Always Wear Your Apron!”

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, R. Max Walton; sons, Roger Walton and wife Ruzanna of Chevy Chase, MD and Stanley Walton of Nacogdoches, TX; grandchildren, Lia Walton and Alex Walton; brother, Stan Pinson of Ashland, KY; along with many friends and extended family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Willa (Rathbun) Pinson and Mart Pinson; and an infant son.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 12:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church, Nacogdoches, with Pastor Dr. Noel Dear officiating. Visitation will be immediately before services, starting at 10:00 A.M. at the church. She will be laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Park following services.

Serving as pallbearers will be Roger Walton, Stanley Walton, Milton Moorer, Tom Atchison, John Fleming, Tim Warkington, and Gene Graves.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741. For online donations please visit donate.cancer.org.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.