Dec. 19, 1923 — Sept. 16, 2014

Ethel M. Walters, 90, of Vandalia, died peacefully Tuesday morning, Sept. 16, 2014, in her daughter’s residence in Chicago.

Ethel was born Dec. 19, 1923, in Kansas City, Kansas to Morgan and Bessie (Williams) Mitchem, the oldest of six children. She married Howard Clark II. He was the first World War II military casualty from Cassopolis, heroically dying to save his troops in France.

She later married Hunter G. Walters June 23, 1945, in Olathe, Kansas. He preceded her in death in 2007. She was also preceded by her parents; one sister, Gloria Norman; three brothers, Frederick Mitchem, Morgan Mitchem, Jr., and James Anderson.

When Ethel was a young girl, she would answer the question of what she wanted to be by when she grew up by responding simply, “A Mom.” Her children testify that she was, indeed, a great mom and will be remembered for taking care of her family. She loved going to church and served on the Deaconess Board. She was a mother of Chain Lake Missionary Baptist Church of Cassopolis.

She was a graduate of Cassopolis High School and excelled at shorthand. She worked for both the Cassopolis and Vandalia Village Halls. She was a librarian for the school district. She enjoyed her hobby of ceramics. Even as a grandmother, she could still do “double dutch” with her granddaughters.

Ethel will be greatly missed by family and friends. She leaves to mourn her passing one daughter, Karen Walters-Wood of Chicago; five sons, Howard (Reola) Clark of Los Angeles, California, Stanley (Yvette) Clark of Sylvania, Ohio, Hunter G. Walters, Jr. of Niles, Michigan, Larry (Beverly) Walters of Morena Valley, California, Roger Walters of Los Angeles, California; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two and a half great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Family and friends will gather Friday, Sept. 26, 2014, from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. in Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway Street, Cassopolis, with Pastor Norman Tubbs officiating. Mrs. Walters will be laid to rest beside her late husband, Hunter G. Walters, Sr., in Fort Custer National Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.