Patricia Joan (Ward) Walton

January 16, 1931 to August 2, 2021

Patricia Joan Walton (Ward) , Age 90, passed away peacefully during her afternoon nap in Randolph, NJ at the Brightview Randolph memory care facility. Patricia was born on January 16, 1931 in Chillicothe, MO. She was adopted by loving parents Truman Ward and Marianna Ward (Dunkel), who had no children of their own. Patricia’s father was a traveling salesman and her mother was a school teacher. They would relocate several times during her early years, at one point living on a turkey farm and traveling miles to school by foot and crossing a river on a row boat out in the Ozarks. Patricia would go on to attend William Woods College earning her Associates Degree. She would go on to earn her BS at Iowa State University with a major in Botanical Sciences. This is where Patricia would meet the love of her life.

Patricia met James Roger Walton at ISU and upon graduation James joined the United States Army in July 1952. Soon thereafter, Patricia and James got married in October that same year. The newlyweds would spend the next few years stationed at Fort Monmouth, NJ. James was a Wire Operations Officer who would head over to the Korean War just as it was ending. James left active duty in 1954 and they moved back to Kansas to start a family.

In 1955, Patricia and James would welcome their first child Mark. John, the second child was born in 1957, followed by the birth of James in 1961. Patricia and family had moved back to New Jersey as her husband’s job had relocated him. Patricia was a devoted mother and stayed at home to raise her 3 children. Ultimately they would relocate the family again back to the Midwest for work. This time they ended up in Overland Park, KS.

In 1971, Patricia and James wanted to have another child. They decided on adoption and were able to locate a service to assist them. At birth, they found out that the biological mother gave birth to twin boys. They decided to adopt both sons together naming them David and Richard. The family of 7 would move again 3 years later back to northern, NJ, settling in the town of Upper Saddle River.

Her husband passed away in October of 1984. As the youngest sons went off to college, Patricia would begin to spend more time on her hobbies. Her love of botany would lead her to join the Tappan Zee chapter of the American Rhododendron Society where she served as President of the chapter for several years. In 2018, she was honored as a longtime contributor to the group with the uncanny ability to tell you how a plant was hybridized.

Patricia would eventually move to Mahwah, NJ in 1994. With the boys out of the house, the allure of townhome living was the right fit for her.

Patricia’s other passion was Broadway and her love for live music. She attended every show that came to New York City as well as the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. She really took an interest to the Tony Award actress/singer Barbara Cook. She would end up traveling the world to see Barbara Cook’s shows in Australia and London in addition to the countless number of New York performances at the renowned Café Carlyle. Barbara would ultimately perform for Patricias’ 70Th Birthday Celebration in 2001 surrounded by her closest friends and family.

Patricia would move into an assisted living facility in 2018 as dementia set in. She spent 3 years in memory care unit with the care required to keep her safe until her passing on August 2, 2021.

Patricia is survived by all 5 of her sons and their wives. Son Mark Walton and his wife Melissa -Richmond Hill, GA - Grandsons Alex and Dylan

Son John Walton and his wife Cathy. Hammondsport, NY - Grandson- Michael and his wife Erica. Great grandsons- Blake, Connor and Cooper - Granddaughter- Christina and her husband Steven

Son James Walton and his wife Nancy- Houston, TX

Son David Walton and his wife Jill- Newtown, PA - Grandson- Justin ; Granddaughter- Julia

Son Richard Walton and his wife Chrys- Randolph, NJ – Granddaughter- Samantha ; Grandson-Tyler

Visitation for friends and family will be held on Friday, August 6, 2021 from 4 - 6 PM at Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, 109 Darlington Ave, Ramsey, NJ The immediate family will have a private ceremony for the burial service.

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