Esther Marroquin Walls

Mrs. Esther Mercedes Walls (age 101) passed away on Wednesday, January 29 , 2025. She was born in Austin, Tx. on March 14, 1923, to Elvira and Manuel Marroquin. Esther was raised in Austin, Tx. and attended Texas Christian University. She married Bill Walls in 1947 in Ft. Worth, Texas, and the couple has three children. Esther’s life was guided by love for others, and a spirit of kindness and warmth. Faith was her core foundation, and she instilled in her family the importance of helping others and showing compassion in all of her relationships. Her greatest joy was her family, and she devoted herself to raising her 3 children, ensuring they had a strong foundation in values and education. She found joy in taking her children to piano and skiing lessons, participating in the TCU Book Club, and sewing clothes for the grandchildren. With Bill working for Exxon, they were relocated numerous times. In each new city, Esther appointed herself as the “social chairman” to initiate dinner parties and bridge groups so that everyone would feel welcomed and not be a stranger.

Esther worked alongside Bill, after his retirement, as a manager of a tax office for over 15 years. She took pride in making sure everything ran smoothly and remained well-organized. Her sense of humor and ability to problem solve made it a rewarding experience to work with the public. She embraced every role she played, whether it was as a wife, mother, grandparent, or friend and faced life with a smile, believing that laughter and love were the best gifts to share. She leaves behind a lifetime of beautiful memories including the importance of family time which included road trips to the mountains, spending time together for birthdays and Christmas, and attending church every week. Esther found great joy in cooking her favorite recipes for family dinners each evening. Many of her favorite dishes continue to be passed down through generations, a lasting gift of love and tradition to her family. In her later years, Esther cherished quiet moments with Bill, sitting side by side on the couch at Sonoma house. They would reminisce about when they first met and the many things they enjoyed doing together. She had a special way of making everyone feel welcome and loved for people to stop and visit, enjoying each conversation and moments shared. She was always so grateful for those who helped her, never missing a chance to express her appreciation. Esther’s kindness and gratitude will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Esther is preceded in death by her husband of 76 years, Bill Walls, and survived by her three children, Deborah J. Grambling (Jeffery Lantz), Betsy A. Crawford (Ron Crawford), and William A. Walls (Shelly Lanich), four grandchildren, Emily P. Willick (Michael J. Willick), Jason R. Grambling (Nicole M. Grambling), Geri R. Sutterfield (Storm L. Sutterfield), David R. Kirk (Elisabeth A. Kirk), and five great grandchildren, Christian Willick, Colton Willick, Caleb Willick, James Grambling, and Audrey Grambling. A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025, at 11a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Rd., Plano, TX. Following the service will be a committal service at 2:30 p.m. at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her honor to Sonoma House at 2048 E. Hebron Pkwy, Carrollton, TX 75007 or to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org . Our family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Holding Hands Hospice and the Sonoma House staff for the kind and loving care given to Esther.