Diane Walton Rounds

1933 - 2019

Diane Doré Walton Rounds of Athens, Georgia died surrounded by loved ones on December 28th, 2019. Mrs. Rounds is the daughter of the late Leo L. Walton and Jean J. Walton and the wife of the late Major Bernard (Jack) Rounds, USAF, Retired. She is survived by her daughters Susan Patricia Rounds and Linda Eileen Rounds. Granddaughter Shannon Patricia (Greg) Hester and great Grandsons Patrick Jackson and Brendan James. Granddaughter Erin Eileen (Jon) White and great grandsons Brody Donovan and Connor Evan.

Mrs. Rounds grew up in Flushing, New York. After graduating from Hofstra College and then Katharine Gibbs School, she took a position as a legal secretary at the Manhattan law firm of Davis Polk. Shortly thereafter she was hit by a drunk driver while making her way home one cold and snowy night. After months in the hospital healing from the accident, her parents sent her to the Elbow Beach Hotel in Bermuda to convalesce. One afternoon she noticed a handsome young man with red hair tossing a ball into the waves for his Boxer pup. The young man, a navigator in the U.S. Air Force, certainly noticed her, too. They were engaged after 10 days and they married 4 months later at St. Kevin's in New York on December 28, 1957.

After being stationed at Kindley AFB, Bermuda, they lived in many places throughout the United States. Mrs. Rounds was proud to be an officer's wife. She always made a beautiful home for her family, was a skilled seamstress and had an artistic flair. Mrs. Rounds volunteered her service and talents in each new community in which they lived. She served as a volunteer Dental Assistant at Hickam Air Force Base (Honolulu HI), taught Sunday school for Holy Family Elementary School, served as a Girl Scout leader and was a blood donor for the American Red Cross.

After living in Hawaii for 9 years, the family moved to Athens where Mrs. Rounds worked at the UGA Catholic Center and the Athens Planning and Development Commission (APDC) before taking a position as an Administrative Secretary in the UGA School of Law Department of Law Placement. During this time, Mrs. Rounds also volunteered to record for the blind and wrote for many newsletters of various organizations. She was an avid reader and had a talent for creative writing and a surprising quick wit. She enjoyed writing humorous short stories and was published in Athens community magazines. Mrs. Rounds had a fine reputation and was known for her professionalism, attention to detail, compassion and drive for excellence in every undertaking.

Mrs. Rounds is remembered for her devotion to family, dedication to community and for being a true patriot by love of country. Her many accomplishments, elegance, beauty and grace will be her legacy. Mrs. Rounds will be missed forever, but her family takes solace in knowing that her beloved navigator brought her home on what would have been their 62nd wedding anniversary.