Patricia "Patty" Jean Schell Walton (age 79) passed away into the great unknown on August 7, 2024, at Hospice House in Kennewick. She was born December 1, 1944, to Stewart and Dorothy Schell during World War II on a U.S. Army blimp base near Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The family, which included a sister, Carol Sue, moved to Moscow, Idaho, in 1949. There Patty attended public schools for 12 years, graduating from Moscow High School in 1962, and then earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Idaho in 1966.

Beginning at the age of 14, and for the next eight years, she worked for JCPenney in Moscow. During college she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Alpha Lambda Delta honor society and the University of Idaho Vandalettes. Patty was especially proud of her Phi Beta Kappa key, which she inherited from her mother, who earned it at Kansas University!

During the summer of 1965 she and her dear friend, Sherry Howry Demmons, studied French in Paris and toured Italy. After graduation Patty worked in data processing at the University of Idaho. The best thing she took away from college was her husband of 52 years, Charles "Chuck" Walton IV, whom she married on June 22, 1966.

After Chuck earned his master's degree in 1968, the couple settled in the Tri-Cities, where they were employed by Safeway Stores, Inc., for a combined total of 70 years! Both retired early, and Chuck later passed away in 2018.

Three years after they had married, Chuck and Patty were blessed with a son, Charles "Charlie" Walton V, who was born November 3, 1969, at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane. Chuck, Patty and Charlie were dyed-in-the-wool dog aficionados. All their puppies -- Heidi, Biff, Shortcake, Carlos Guadalupe Delgado, Binky, Dino Rossi and Pudge Brownie -- were absolutely adored and lived full, happy lives with the Walton family.

Patty enjoyed swimming, sewing, e-mailing to the tune of the washer and dryer, growing tomatoes, shopping 'til she dropped, and napping in the gazebo, or anywhere! She also loved to bake. She was delighted to win 1st and 2nd place in two Safeway-Pillsbury bake-offs!

She will be eternally grateful for her wonderful circle of female friends: The many happy hours she spent with each and every one of them -- shopping, lunching, swimming, drinking mochas or watching movies on the big screen -- greatly enriched her life with wisdom, humor and love.

Patty is survived by son Charlie; sister Carol Crathorne and husband James of Moscow, Idaho; nephew Jim Crathorne II and wife Betty of Shoreline, Wash; nephew Chris Crathorne and Shannon Skinner of Bellingham, Wash; niece Nancy Hammond and husband Dirk of Kendrick, Idaho; niece Nikki Crathorne of Moscow (guardian of Jordan Abendroth); grand niece Cortnie Hammond; grand nephew Chris Hammond; grand nephew Conner Hammond and his daughter Jacqueline; and cousin John Dean Viets of Mt. Prospect, Illinois.

Mueller's Funeral Home of Kennewick is in charge of the cremation. No funeral service will be held, as per her request. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Benton County Animal Control, 1116 N. Grant Place, Kennewick, WA, 99336.