Katalin Julia (Hunyadi) Walton |
| Posted 2020-10-02 by Pat R |
| Daily Courier (Prescott, Arizona) Originally Published: September 26, 2020 8:22 p.m. Katalin Julia Walton (born Katalin Erzsebet Juliana Hunyadi) died Aug. 10, 2020, aged 98, of natural causes. She passed away peacefully at her home in Prescott, Arizona, with her daughter, Georgia, and son, John, by her side. Katus (as she was known to friends) was born Feb. 13, 1922, in Szeged, Hungary, and grew to adulthood in the interwar period. She attended medical school at the Pazmany Peter University in Budapest before being evacuated to Germany with her classmates due to World War II. She continued to study medicine in Breslau, Halle, Neuburg, and finally a US Station Hospital in Augsburg, Germany. It was in Augsburg that Katus, a nurse and refugee, met Joseph Walton, then a Military Police Captain in the United States Army, whom she married in December 1948. Though she was the model of European sophistication--a speaker of five languages with impeccable style and a Hungarian accent those who knew her can easily recall with a smile--Katus was deeply proud to become an American citizen in 1952. As the wife of an Army Colonel, "a soldier without rank," she served her adopted country with gusto and grace, working as a registered nurse and volunteer in military posts and surrounding civilian communities around the world, from Fort Polk, Louisiana, to the Panama Canal Zone, to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Small in stature but giant in personality and drive, Katus led a variety of organizations, including as President of the Fort Bliss Officers' Wives Club, the Women's Department of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, and the Beautify El Paso Association, among countless others. She was a consummate hostess with legendary charm, whose career in hospitality included stints as Social Coordinator of the Fort Bliss Officers' Club, Food and Beverage Director of Hotel Paso del Norte in El Paso, and 14 years as the General Manager of the 4UR Ranch in Creede, Colorado. Katus was an avid fan of horse racing, a passion she shared with her jockey brother, Laszlo, and trainer son, John. She was a registered racehorse owner, Vice President of Horsewomen United, and member of numerous racing organizations, in addition to owning horse properties in El Paso and Prescott Valley, Arizona. Though her life was in many ways shaped by the horrors of war, Katus was endlessly grateful for what she had and optimistic about the future. She was blessed with a long and happy life, which she used to make others happy. Caring and empathetic, independent and hard-working, Katus always managed to find the humor in any situation. Her sharp wit and generosity of spirit will be deeply missed by her family. Katus is preceded in death by her husband, Col. Joseph Rupel Walton; parents, Janos and Gyorgyi Hunyadi; as well as siblings, Gyorgyi, Laszlo, Florika, Elemer, and Eva. She is survived by daughter, Georgia McGee (husband Leonard); and son, John Walton; grandchildren, Alexandria Harter, Amanda Bazzell (husband William), Russell J. Rusing, Lillian Rusing (husband Nathan) and Lenny McGee (wife Katrina), brother Matyas Hunyadi (wife Nancy); eight great-grandchildren and many loving nephews, nieces, in-laws, and friends. Hampton Funeral Home in Prescott assisted the family with final arrangements. A memorial service and interment will be held at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Texas, with date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations in Katus' honor may be made to Prescott Charities, 1615 Bent Tree Trail, Prescott, AZ 86303, or to Yavapai Exceptional Industries, 436 N. Washington Ave., Prescott, AZ 86301. Information provided by survivors. See Also: Find A Grave |
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