Lola M. Dalton

Lola M. (Walz) Dalton passed away peacefully in La Quinta, CA on September 11, 2018 having lived a long, brilliant and fulfilling life. She was 93 years.
Born to Norbert Walz and Gertrude (Bosold) Walz on August 27, 1925 in Waukesha WI, the family moved to Madison WI when Lola was two years old.

By the age of five, Lola began her youthful career as a violinist. In addition to the usual recitals, she went on to perform for many years with the Wisconsin School of Music String Orchestra, String Quartet and the Madison Symphony Orchestra.

Lola attended grade school at St. Bernard's and graduated in 1943 from Edgewood High School in Madison.
It was in her freshman year that she met the love of her life, Paul Dalton.

But shortly after high school the sweethearts were separated by WWII. Paul was deployed to France, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, was captured and survived 104 days as a POW in Germany. A very sad and scary time for Lola, especially the day she received a box from the Army containing every daily post she had written to Paul. Her letters were returned, unopened. Her happiest day was when she was notified of Paul's liberation.

After graduation from Edgewood, Lola was accepted into the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corp at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison. This federal government program was created during WWII to address the shortage of Registered Nurses 'stateside'. She pursued her R.N. career for 35 more years, mostly in the Operating Room, and was a licensed RN to practice in WI, IL and CA. She retired from the Arcadia (CA) Outpatient Surgery Center in 1990.

Lola and Paul were married in 1949. After living in the Chicago area for 12 years, a work transfer took them to Southern CA (Arcadia) where they worked, played and raised two kids.

Lola loved to travel!!! In addition to China, Southeast Asia, UK and Europe, Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico, she and Paul enjoyed frequent weekend jaunts to the Palm Springs desert. They eventually chose their 'Forever Home' in The Oasis Country Club Palm Desert in 1993. They brought their bicycles, took tennis lessons and loved road trips. Lola was a charter member and officer of The Oasis Women's Putter's Club. As a couple they were part of a vibrant 'social life' with their Oasis friends, neighbors and lots of visiting relatives. Being full-timers, they regularly escaped the desert's hot summer months to their daughter's home in New York City where they enjoyed exploring, dining and attending Broadway shows.

They were members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Palm Desert.

Paul predeceased Lola in 2003. She is survived by her son John Dalton (Joanne) of Whittier CA, grandson Sean Dalton of Anaheim CA, and her daughter Jeanne Dalton (Steve Smith) of Palm Desert CA.

A Celebration of Life will be held in November at The Oasis Country Club, Palm Desert.