Love Walton

Love was born at the Walton home place in Putnam County on August 26, 1924. He went to join his loved ones in the home God had prepared for him on Monday, August 20, 2012. Love was descended from two long-time Putnam County families. His mother was Willa Denham Walton and his father was Millard Ingram Walton. His mother died when he was an infant, leaving a bereaved father and his 3 year-old brother, Millard, Jr. God provided a “substitute mother” in the person of his aunt, Edna Walton. He often said that no one could have been a more loving and caring “mother” than Aunt Edna. She, along with his mother, father and brother, all preceded him in death. He graduated from Eatonton High School in 1941, and attended Abraham Baldwin College. He joined the U.S. Army in 1943, and served with the anti-aircraft unit in the European theater until his discharge in 1946. He then went to the University of Georgia where he met the love of his life, Carolyn “Sug” Cunningham. They married in 1948, and began their life together on the farm in Putnam County where he spent the rest of his life. Love was respected by his peers and fellow dairymen for the methods he carried out in his dairy. He had a keen appreciation for God’s good earth and put into practice good soil conservation on all his farmland. In 1963, he was honored by being selected “Man of the Year” in Putnam County for Soil and Water Conservation in the Piedmont District. Friends of his children always enjoyed coming home with them and going straight to the barn where Love, with his special affection for children, would take time to let them milk a cow or lift them up on the back of a gentle cow. He enjoyed taking his grandchildren with him in his truck and teaching them about his farm operation. These are special memories for them that will last a lifetime. After Love sold his dairy cows in 1964, he began raising beef cattle and worked for a time at Gold Kist selling feed to other dairymen. His other pursuit in business was the development, with his friend and business partner, James Dooley, of Loch Haven subdivision, a Lake Oconee waterfront property. As a young man, Love was elected to serve as a deacon and began following in his ancestors’ footsteps as an active participant in carrying out the Christian work at Eatonton First Baptist Church. This was alwaysdone in his quiet, unassuming way – whether it was cutting the lawn, pruning the shrubbery, or counting and recording the weekly offerings. He served as an usher for many years and as an officer in his Brewster Knight Sunday School class. His lasting legacy is his love of his children and his integrity in all his business matters, and the teaching of his values by living his life as an example of a Christian man. Love’s memory will always be held in the highest esteem by his widow, Carolyn (‘Sug’) Walton and his four children. He “talked the talk and walked the walk” so that when his earthly life ended his Master could truly say, “well done thou good and faithful servant.” Their love, respect and admiration for him will be heartfelt throughout their lives. Besides his wife of almost 64 years, he is survived by his two sons, Kent Walton (Susan) of Boones Mill, Virginia and Cary Walton (Beth) of Eatonton, his two daughters, Carol Williams (Tom) of Eatonton and Velma Winslette (Glenn) of Greensboro. He is also survived by his much-loved eight grandchildren: Tarra Neff, Natasha Walton-Sperduti, Kensley Williams, Ryan Walton (Tonya), Kaci Walker (Huey), Camille Walton, Ginni Smith (Rich) and Ansley Winslette; and eleven great grandchildren: Hannah Neff, Ira Neff, Dylan Walton, Kelsey Walton, Cassidey Nichols, Halle Walton, Ayla Walton, Pierce Walker, Jackson Walker, Bethan Smith and Caitlyn Smith. One grandson, Kyle Williams, preceded him in death and helped welcome him into heaven. A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 2P.M. at Eatonton First Baptist Church, 115 N. Madison Avenue, Eatonton, Georgia with Dr. Keithen Tucker and Rev. William Kitchen, III officiating. The family will receive friends at Williams Funeral Home in Eatonton, Georgia on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 between the hours of 6:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M. Visitation will also be from 1P.M. until the service hour at the church fellowship hall prior to the service. The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to Serenity Hospice Care in Milledgeville, Georgia. Memorials can be made to: Eatonton First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 3400, Eatonton, Georgia 31024 or Serenity Hospice Care, 2601 North Columbia Street, Suite F, Milledgeville, Georgia 31061.

Love Walton

August 26, 1924 - August 20, 2012