Royce Jean Walton

Royce Jean Walton, of Groesbeck, passed away at her home Wednesday, February 16, 2011, following a year long illness. She was 72. A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, February 20, 2011, at New Hope Cemetery, with her son, Sam Walton officiating. Royce Jean was born November 13,1938 to Wade Lummus and Ollie (Dossey) Lummus at LaSalle, and soon the family moved to Conroe where she grew up. Royce Jean was united in marriage with John Allen Walton on April 24, 1955 in New Mexico. She was an LVN, and then attended school to become a Nursing Home Administrator. She moved to Huntsville in 1989 where she worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a corrections officer at The Walls unit, until retiring in 1996. While living in Huntsville, she was a member of the Rebekah Lodge of Conroe. Royce Jean and John Allen renewed their love and vows on April 24, 1996, in Groesbeck, where they made their home the rest of her life. While her four sons were growing up, Royce Jean made sure they learned to play baseball, teaching and playing with them herself. She was an extremely great fan of baseball and The Texas Rangers was her team. She also loved to watch football preferring The Texans. She never missed a game, and even told the family in spite of her declining health she was going to live until after the Superbowl. She is survived by her husband, John Allen Walton of Groesbeck; son and daughter-in-law, David and Audrey Walton of Thornton; son and daughter-in-law, John S. (Sam) and Brenda Walton of Thornton; son, Royce “Gene” Walton of Groesbeck; son, Curtis Walton of Groesbeck and wife Patty; nine grandchildren; twenty great grandchildren; a sister, Ola Mae Webster of Groesbeck; and brother and sister-in-law, Lucky Wade and Terri Lummus of Arlington; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory be made to Providence Hospice in Mexia.