Mary Walter

MARY ELIZABETH (DIEBOLD) WALTER passed away peacefully on Friday, April 19, 2024, in the early evening. Family and friends gathered at Stuart Meyer Hospice House in her final days where she was brave and completely ready and looking forward to eternity.

On June 8, 1929, Mary Walter was born in Louisville, KY, to John Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Diebold. She lived in their family home on Eastern Parkway in Louisville her entire life until she married Doug Walter when they were both 21 and they began their 53 year marriage together. Doug and Mary raised three boys together on a farm in Crestwood, Kentucky, where they purchased farmland and eventually built a home. Eventually, Mary and Doug began their lives as “Snowbirds” traveling back and forth from Kentucky to Florida, until they eventually landed full time to beach life in Ormond-By-The-Sea.

The Florida sunrises were one of Mary’s favorites, and she arose early enough to catch it many times through the years. She loved her life in Florida, including attending St. Brendan’s Catholic Church where she met and cherished a multitude of friends; many of whom regularly visited, treasured and loved her through the years, including on her last day. The family is comforted by the knowledge that Mary had a longstanding and close relationship with her faith, and that she is now in God’s presence, which she has been longing for patiently on some days, and not so patiently on other days.

In her young years, Mary began her working career as a switchboard operator in Louisville, and later held other office positions through the years. However, her true calling was family life, especially being a devoted mother to her 3 sons. She often reminisced of life with her boys, especially their adventures through the younger years of living on the family farm and camping and traveling in the summers, with her memories remaining sharp and clear to the end.

Mary Walter lived a long and exemplary life of 94 years, 10 months and 11 days. Whenever you spoke with her, she managed to comment on how her high number of years of age had relevance to the conversation. Her age was a well-deserved accomplishment for her. She had childlike anticipation and delight about her birthday every year. Her lawn was often decorated, milestone birthdays included a party, and she proudly started wearing her annual birthday shirt a week or two before her special day. A blue “This is What 95 Looks Like” shirt is now hanging up in her hallway and has been there for months. This year when her birthday arrives, we can celebrate with Mary on this side of eternity, realizing the magnitude of the rejoicing over her on the other side. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imaged, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Douglas “Doug” Walter; her parents, John Joseph Diebold and Mary Elizabeth Diebold; as well as her brothers, John “Jack” (Roselle) Diebold and Cyril (Mary) Diebold.

Left behind to cherish her memory are her three sons, Greg (Shawna) Walter of Kentucky, Kevin (Joy) Walter of North Carolina, and Jeffrey (Amy) Walter of Kentucky; 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Mary has one remaining sister, Martha (Robert) Smith, and countless extended family members, neighbors, and friends, young and old, who will also remember her with much fondness and affection.

Those who wish may make a memorial gift in Mary Walter’s name by going to stjude.org to donate online, or by calling 800-805-5856 to make a designated memorial donation by phone.