Grace Marie Walton, age 83, of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania passed peacefully on April 27, 2016, surrounded by her family at Kendal at Longwood.

Grace was born on the family farm in Bart Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on August 19, 1932.  She was the daughter of the late Daniel Amos Rineer, Sr. and the late Ella Nora Groff Rineer.

Grace attended Mount Pleasant School in Bart Township followed by Eden Township Elementary School, Lancaster County.  Both were one room schoolhouses.  She attended the Quarryville High School and when the family moved to Christiana, Delaware in 1946, she completed her secondary education at the age 16 from Newark High School, class of 1948.  Prior to her graduation, Grace worked for Farmers Trust Company of Newark later acquired by Wilmington Trust Company for 3 1\2 years until she married. 

Married on October 10, 1951, Grace was the beloved wife of the late Howard J. Walton, II, with whom she shared 61 1\2 years of marriage.  Grace and Howard lived on the Walton farm and raised their three children.  Their children became the fifth generation to occupy the Homestead.  When the children were young, Grace was a full time housewife. She enjoyed, gardening, flower arranging and cooking for everyone.  She volunteered for the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Church Women's Association at Kennett Presbyterian Church (known as PW group).  She held many offices at her church including elder, trustee, clerk of session and advisor to youth groups.  She also sang in the chancel choir.  On many Wednesday’s, Grace would be at the church, prepping and cooking for their weekly “Wednesday Night Dinner”, that many times fed 100 people or more.

After the children were grown, Grace worked as a bookkeeper for a local manufacturing company and financial secretary for Kennett Presbyterian Church.  For the past 37 years, Grace was a legal assistant and valued employee for Larmore Scarlett, LLP.

Grace was a member of Kennett Presbyterian Church and more recently Westminster Presbyterian Church of West Chester.  She was an active member of the Lions Club of Kennett Square, serving two terms as president and treasurer.  Recognized for humanitarian service and devotion, Grace received the Bing Miller Fellow and Melvin Jones Fellow awards.  For 60 years, Grace was a member of the YAG (Young Adult Group) Club, Needlework Guild of America (NGA), Evergreen Garden Club and many bridge clubs.  Initiated on April 19, 1966, Grace was a 50 year member of Order of the Eastern Star, Cochranville Chapter.

Grace enjoyed many family camping trips, cruises and trips with friends and family, playing bridge, genealogy, history of Chester and Lancaster Counties, reading and her retreat in Stone Harbor, New Jersey.

She is survived by three children, Gary Michener Walton of New Castle, Delaware, Grace Ann Walton of West Chester, Pennsylvania and Jennifer Walton Streich and her husband, Jonathan of Lilburn, Georgia; two grandchildren, Matthew Karl Streich and his wife, Meg of Corpus Christi, Texas and Rebecca Walton Streich Stolorena and her husband, Michael of Suwanee, Georgia; two brothers, Marvin Rineer and his wife, Eva of Wilmington, Delaware and Daniel A. Rineer, Jr. of Signal Mountain, Tennessee and one sister, Geraldine Rively of Middletown, Delaware.  

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her son, Walter L. Walton and a brother, Melvin Rineer and his wife Gladys. 

A memorial service will be at 1:00PM on Friday, May 13, 2016 at the KENDAL at LONGWOOD auditorium, 1109 East Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.  A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kendal at Longwood Employee Appreciation Fund or the Kendal at Longwood Reserve Fund at P. O. Box 100, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348.

Burial will be private in Longwood Cemetery.

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