WALTERS, Donna Mardean (Symes)1931-2003

WALTERS, SYMES, NEWBERRY, URICH, HALLMAN, MORITZ, CONNELL, WILSON, COLUMBO, SCHULTZ

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 10/17/2012 at 10:49:14

Donna Mardean (Symes) Walters – November 15, 1931 -- August 18, 2003

DONNA M. WALTERS

MASON CITY — Donna M. Walters, 71, of 32 26th St. S.W., died Monday morning (Aug. 18, 2003) at her home after battling ill health for several years.

Memorial services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 Second St. S.E. in Mason City, with the Rev. Keith Scott, officiating.

The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.

Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to Hospice of North Iowa or the Donna M. Walters Memorial Fund.

Donna Mardean Walters was born Nov. 15, 1931, near Rockford. She was one of nine children born to Pearl (Newberry) and Walter L. Symes.

Donna was proud to have graduated valedictorian of her class from Manly High School in 1949.

She attended St. Luke's School of Nursing in Cedar Rapids, and began her career as a registered nurse.

Prior to retiring, Donna had utilized her nursing skills at Good Shepherd Health Center and Heritage Care Center.

On Dec. 19, 1954, Donna was united in marriage to Duane L. Walters in Yuma, Ariz. The couple relocated several times to various homes in the United States as Duane was actively in the Marines. Since 1979, Donna has lived in the Mason City area.

Donna treasured family gatherings and had found great pleasure in researching the genealogy of the Symes and Newberry families. This past July, she organized a family reunion at a park in Mason City.

Some of Donna's favorite leisure activities and interests included creating all types of craft projects and reading. She was an avid reader and enjoyed all types of books.

Donna will be missed dearly by family and friends who shared in her life.

She is survived by her children, Sue Urich and her husband, Tony, of Garner, Mickel Walters of Mason City, Greg Walters and his wife, Lynda, of Eufaula, Ala., and Beverly Hallman and her husband, Steve, of Atlantic, Iowa. She will also be sadly missed by her sisters and brother, Judith Moritz and her husband, Erwin, of Mason City, Evelyn Connell and her husband, Frank, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Linda Wilson and her husband, Gordon, of Mason City, Joyce Columbo and her husband, Steve "Tony" of Mason City and Melvin "Bud" Symes and his wife, Joanne, of Mason City. Six grandchildren survive Donna.

Preceding Donna in death are her parents; her husband, Duane, in August of 1979; her sister, Shirley Symes Schultz; and two brothers, Russell and Dale Symes.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, (641) 423-8676.

Globe Gazette, Friday August 22, 2003