Jennie Louise Walter

Jennie Louise Walter, 91, passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.

Memorial Mass: 10 a.m. Thursday, June 1, at St. Joseph Catholic Parish, 1927 SW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. Visitation and Rosary: 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. You can donate now by clicking here.

Jennie was born on October 16, 1931 in Minden, Louisiana to Jesse B. and Minnie B. Lowe. Jennie was one of 5 girls and 3 boys Jesse and Minnie’s union produced. Life was not easy for the Lowe family on their farm with the children often working in the fields after school and in the summertime, helping to harvest and bring the crops in by hand. In spite of these conditions, Jennie and her siblings did well in school. Jennie graduated from Minden High School in 1950 and, looking to “expand her horizons”, enlisted in the U.S. Army. She attained the rank of Corporal and was assigned to the Pentagon, and always looked back on her years in the military with great fondness.

After her Army enlistment ended, Jennie returned to Minden and obtained a job working at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant as a civilian where she met her future husband, Don, who was himself in the Army and assigned there. A romance soon blossomed. During their courtship, they saw Elvis live at the Louisiana Hayride just before he broke onto the national scene.

When Don’s Army enlistment was up, they married in 1956 and settled in Columbus, Ohio. Their son, Michael, was born in 1957 and daughter, Teresa, in 1961. Within weeks of Teresa’s birth, Don accepted a job offer working for the government at Bell Helicopter and the Walter family moved to Texas, living in North Richland Hills for a year as their house was being built in the “up and coming” city of Arlington.

The family moved into their new house in August 1962 and Don and Jennie join the Catholic parish of St. Maria Goretti. They became very involved in the parish with Jennie becoming a member of the Altar Society, the Home and School Association, the Cub Scouts (as a den mother) and the Lone Star Baseball League Steering Committee. She was also a “room mother” for Michael and Teresa’s grades, alternating years for the two of them.

During Michael and Teresa’s elementary/junior high school years, the family very much enjoyed games of Monopoly every summer when Don’s parents came to visit. In many “marathon” games, Don’s father John and Jennie would often to head-to-head trying to bankrupt each other. Likewise, when Jennie’s siblings Roy, Jon and Carol would come to visit, a board game, card game, checkers, or Chinese checkers were gotten out, and many other fond memories of “classic battles” were made. Jennie’s brother, Roy, and daughter, Teresa, had something in common – neither like to lose.

Jennie was an active member of the Lamar High School Band Boosters during Michael’s high school years.

In 1983, Jennie and Don moved to Las Vegas as Don took his final job before retirement, and those were “fun” years for both of them. While they only occasionally played the nickel and quarter slot machines, they would often visit the casinos for the then-wonderful and economical buffets.

When Don reached retirement age, he and Jennie returned to Arlington and joined St. Joseph Catholic Parish, and became one of the parish’s founding families. They made many, many wonderful new friends. Once again they became very active in the church organizations. Jennie was a member of the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary, the Discalced Carmelite Nuns Auxiliary, and the Retired Ladies Birthday Club. She helped out at many church events and activities.

In her retirement years, Jennie greatly enjoyed babysitting for her friends grandchildren whenever needed, and this brought her great happiness. She also continued baking beyond her 80’s, only slowing down in her final years.

Jennie always enjoyed watching Dallas Cowboys football, old movies, Perry Mason, and collecting Gone with the Wind memorabilia.

Jennie was preceded in death by husband, Don in 2008 and daughter, Teresa in 2020. She is survived by her son, Michael; son-in-law, Kevin; brother, Jon; sisters, Carol and Ruth; sister-in-law, Jen; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.