Ruby Mae Walton

Ruby Mae Walton, 95, of Janesville, WI, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 at Cedar Crest Assisted Living. She was born in Nashua, IA, on March 30, 1916, the daughter of Gilbert E. and Delia M. (Brooks) Tracy. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and married Clifford "Ted" Walton on June 21, 1937, in Madison. He preceded her in death in 2006. She retired in 1977 from the Janesville Gazette newsroom. Ruby was a member of First Congregational UCC. She was also a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Janesville Area Writers Club, Wisconsin Regional Writers Association and Milton Grange. She held local, county, state and national Grange offices. In 1973, she and Ted represented the National Grange on a two-month tour of India sponsored by Farmers and World Affairs. Ruby was a Janesville 4-H leader and member of 5-H Club, PTA, Harmony and Blackhawk Homemakers Clubs, Rock River Community Club, Rock County Committee of Farmers Home Administration, State Joint Committee on Education, and State Seed and Weed Advisory Committee. Ruby began teaching reminiscence writing in Tucson, AZ, where she and Ted spent 19 winters, and later at the Janesville Senior Center and Cedar Crest. She is the author of the books Memoirs Made Easy, Wisconsin State Grange 1972-1992 and A Tiger Every Sunday, and editor of Hopscotch, Hobos and Foxholes. She has had articles published in numerous magazines and newspapers. Ruby received many honors, including UW-Madison College of Agriculture for service to the community, Woman of Distinction by Janesville YWCA, Rotarian Paul Harris Fellow, one of the "50 that Matter" by the Janesville Gazette and the Senior Achievement Award from the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups & Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin. Ruby enjoyed traveling with Ted to many overseas countries as well as motor homing throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. She is survived by four children: Steve (Doris) Walton of Radcliffe, KY, Jean (David) Schollmeier of Janesville, Andy (Judy) Walton of Edgerton, Judy Walton (Rick Writz) of Lake Tomahawk, WI, and a daughter-in-law, JoAnne Walton of Janesville; seven grandchildren: Cliff (Hye Kyong) Walton of Navarre, FL, Sheila Walton of Edgerton, Sandi Walton of Janesville, Bob Walton of Janesville, Amy Schollmeier of Platteville, Chris Schollmeier of Coon Valley, and Adam (Marisa) Walton of Edgerton. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ted; their son, Dick; and her brothers, Harry and Robert Tracy. A visitation will be held at Schneider, Apfel, Schneider and Schneider Funeral Home on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the 11:00 a.m. funeral service at First Congregational Church on Friday. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to First Congregational Church, Janesville, or to Agrace Hospice Care, Janesville. A private interment will be held at a later date at Roselawn Memorial Park, Madison. The family wishes to extend special thanks for the wonderful care given Ruby by the staff at Cedar Crest and Agrace Hospice Care – your warm, loving care to our mother will always be remembered.