CARMEL - Mrs. Grace Inez Bakken Walter (Grace) departed this life at the Community Hospital on January 10, 2018 where she had been briefly admitted as the last phase of a long decline. Grace was one of two daughters born March 29, 1922, in Gray, Iowa, to Mr. Herman Bakken and his wife Mildred Signall Bakken. She was raised in Iowa and attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Music in 1943. She taught music briefly before and after marrying her husband, Dr. James Milton Walter, in 1944, who predeceased her in 2007. With completion of his overseas tour of duty in the Navy in 1947, they settled in Ames, Iowa, where he established a dental practice and she began a home as they began their family. Jim and Grace had two sons, both of whom are surviving, Dr. James M. Walter, Jr., of Winston-Salem, NC, and Dr. Charles Hugh Walter of Bellingham, WA.
Grace created a wonderful home for her family drawing on her artistic talents to raise her sons. She was active with many groups in Ames, especially PEO and Alpha Delta Pi. Grace also participated in many informal social groups including women's golf, bowling league and bridge club. She sewed, taught millinery in the adult education area, and encouraged her family to explore music, her passion. Most of her adult life, she had an active commitment to vocal music, having a beautiful voice, and singing in the choir of the churches to which she belonged, often in a soloist capacity. With retirement in 1979, Grace and Jim moved to the Monterey Peninsula, where they quickly reestablished their home, living in Carmel Views. Grace and Jim were active socially on the Peninsula where they were members of the Monterey Peninsula Country Club, of which Grace was still a member. She was a longstanding member of the First Presbyterian Church of Monterey where she could be found any Sunday until she became too ill to attend. She had an abiding interest in the decorative arts which she actively pursued here. She was an accomplished decorative and folk art painter winning several awards locally in Monterey as well as statewide.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Jim, and her sister, Helen. She is survived by her son, James, Jr., and daughters Katherine and Elizabeth; son Charles, his wife Elsie, and daughters Chelsea (Hovis) and Tiffany (Hansgen), and one great grandchild, Jenna Hovis. She is also survived by multiple nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Drs. John Kennedy, Lane Verlenden, and the people at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula who cared for Grace during her many admissions and long decline. They would also like to thank Central Coast Senior Services who cared for Grace in her home for many years, especially Peachy Robles who was especially close to her in her last days.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, February 20, at 3pm at First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, any donations in remembrance be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Monterey in memory of Grace I. Walter. You may leave condolences and sign the guest book by logging onto the website www.thepaulmortuary.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by The Paul Mortuary.
2 Entries
February 19, 2018
Karl Stratemeyer
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you this week during your time of loss. I wish I could have been there. Love, Karl
January 17, 2018
Helen Skidmore & family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
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