Donna Grace Walton, 82, of Mt. Vernon, passed away at 6:23 p.m., Monday, February 3, 2025, at Stonebridge Memory Care, in Mt. Vernon.

She was born October 22, 1942, in Peru, Illinois, the daughter of John Edward and Clarabelle (Hubert) Gapinski. On November 23, 1967, in LaSalle, Illinois, she married Richard Walton, and he survives.

Mrs. Walton earned a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Cedarville College in Cedarville, Ohio. She started her teaching career at Lincoln Grade School and later taught for many years at Rome Grade School. Her students may fondly remember her as “Miss Viola Swamp,” and they all now know who named the dinosaurs. Her friends will remember her fun-loving spirit, contagious smile, and joyful heart.

Mrs. Walton dearly loved her family. She took great joy in being a grandmother to her five grandchildren. She was devoted to her church and missions, selflessly serving domestically and abroad with her husband.

In addition to her husband, Richard Walton, she is survived by her sons, Brett (& Meleah) Walton of Walnut Hill, Illinois, and Zack (& Cindy) Walton of Jackson, Missouri, and grandchildren, Madison (& Eddie) Walton-Franklin of Portland, Oregon, Will Walton of Madison, Wisconsin, Matt (& Cassidy) Walton of Dix, Illinois, Tanner Walton of Charleston, South Carolina, and Maggie Walton of Jackson, Missouri. She is also survived by her siblings, David Gapinski, Jim (& Rose) Gapinski, John (& Mary) Gapinski, Joe (& Julie) Gapinski, Danny (& Christina) Gapinski, Joy (& Ken) Jaraczewski, and Tim (& Sherri) Gapinski.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Clarabelle Gapinski, her niece, Amanda Gapinski, her father- and mother-in-law, Harold and Hazel Walton, and her sister-in-law, Patricia (Walton) Miller.

The funeral service for Mrs. Walton will be held at Logan Street Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Mt. Vernon. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 7, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Osborn Funeral Home in Dix and an hour before the service on Saturday. Memorial gifts may be made to Logan Street Baptist Church and will be accepted at the funeral home on the night of visitation and by mail to the Osborn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 130, Dix, Illinois 62830. Online condolences may be made at www.osbornfuneral.com, or on the Osborn Funeral Home Facebook page.