Obituaries

Mary Noel Baird Walton

MARY NOEL BAIRD WALTON died June 30, 2010, at her home in Little Rock surrounded by her family. She was born in Searcy, Ark., on Feb. 2, 1924, the only daughter of Katherine Lightle and Robert Atkinson Baird Jr. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her only brother Robert Atkinson Baird III of Memphis, Tenn. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Harris Walton; her daughter, Katherine Walton Harpole and son-in-law John Thomas Harpole of Little Rock; her daughter, Martha Walton Thannisch and son-in-law Dr. Ray Thannisch of Little Rock; her son, Thomas Campbell Walton and daughter-in-law Van Martin Walton of Charlotte, N.C.; and her son Dr. Robert Baird Walton of Batesville, Ark. Grandchildren include her granddaughter Mary Katherine (Katy) Harpole Smith and her husband Damon of Pensacola, Fla.; grandson Douglas Gardiner Harpole and his wife Stephanie Jarrett Harpole of Little Rock; grandson Aaron Harris Walton and his wife Dr. Kara Ellison Walton of Detroit, Mich. and grandson, Benjamin Teague Walton of Charlotte, N.C.; granddaughters Mary Stuart Walton of Jonesboro, Ark.; Caroline Ripley Walton and Elizabeth Baird Walton and grandson Thomas Edward Walton of Batesville, Ark.; grandson Adam Thomas Thannisch and granddaughter Mary Margaret (Maggie) Thannisch of Little Rock; and great-grandsons Conner Drake Harpole and Carter Douglas Harpole; and great-granddaughter, Julianna Catherine Harpole, of Little Rock. While growing up, Mary Noel lived in Fulton, Ky., Greenwood and Tupelo, Miss., and finally in Clarksdale, Miss., where she attended Clarksdale High School. She spent her freshman year of college at Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, Miss., and then transferred to the University of Mississippi where she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. She left Ole Miss after her sophomore year and returned to Clarksdale where she worked for The Coahoma County Bank before moving to Memphis, Tenn., to work as a stewardess for Chicago and Southern Airlines before she married in 1946. She was a homemaker for fourteen years in Laurel, Mississippi, before moving to Crossett, Arkansas, where she lived for Forty-four years until moving to Little Rock in 2005. Mary Noel lived a life filled with nurture, love, and concern for her family and friends. She was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church.. A memorial service will be held on July 7, 2010, at 2 p.m.. at Grace Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. Memorials may be made to Grace Presbyterian Church at 9301 Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72227; The Presbyterian Church of Crossett at 309 Pine Street, Crossett, Ark. 71635; or The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Division of Hematology and Oncology at 4301 West Markham #625F, Little Rock, Ark. 72205. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

Published July 4, 2010

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