Elaine Walling

Loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Elaine Tate Walling, age 90, of Grapeland, Texas, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on Wednesday, the 2nd day of February 2022. Mrs. Walling was born in Greenville, Alabama, on the 6th day of May 1931, to parents Paul E. Tate, Sr. and Eddie May Coleman Tate.

Mrs. Walling was a gracious Christian who found something to be thankful for every day. She was a devoted member of the Grapeland First United Methodist Church for sixty-six years. During that time, she taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir and was an active member of Love Circle.

Mrs. Walling was an active citizen in the community and served as the First Lady of Grapeland when her husband, Daniel Walling, was Mayor. She directed many community plays and produced the Grapeland Peanut Festival Annual Queen's Coronation Pageant for several years. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling with her husband, painting, cooking, and working in her flower and vegetable gardens. If you were to drive by Mrs. Walling's house, on many occasions you could find her sitting on her porch drinking Diet Coke. Mrs. Walling was a light to her community and many friends that she formed over the years. She will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

Waiting for Mrs. Walling in Heaven are her parents Paul and Eddie May Tate, sister Mabel Francis "Polly" Crumpton, and her brother Edward "Bubba" Tate.

Mrs. Walling leaves behind her husband of 66 years Daniel David Walling; daughters, Laura Walling and spouse, Judy Leonard, Teresa Bennett and spouse, Allen Bennett, all of Grapeland, Texas; sisters, Glenda Fritz of Greenville, Alabama; brothers, Paul E. Tate, Jr. of Greenville, Alabama, and James B. "Benji" Tate and wife Caty of Fairhope, Alabama; grandchildren, Laura Bennett and fiancé Josh Hernandez, Mollie Martin and husband Tallon; great-grandchildren, Madeline Tate Martin and Russell Sawyer Martin. Mrs. Walling is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members.

A funeral service to celebrate Mrs. Walling's life is to be conducted at three o'clock in the afternoon, on Sunday, the 6th day of February 2022 at Grapeland First United Methodist Church with Pastor Wade Harman officiating. Interment will follow in Parker Cemetery.

Friends are invited to visit with the family one hour prior to the start of the service at Grapeland First United Methodist Church.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Michael Cutshaw, Brandon Bridges, Cannon Vickers, Casey Vickers, Clete Vickers, Tallon Martin, Josh Hernandez, DeWayne Kendrick, and Jeff Kerby.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Mrs. Walling's honor may be directed to the Grapeland First United Methodist Church, 715 U.S. Highway 287 N., Grapeland, Texas 75844.

The family greatly appreciates the loving care extended to Mrs. Walling during the last year of her life. A special thanks to LaDona Johnson, Pat Lawrie, Evelyn Hackett, Margie Nelson, Brenda Ervin, Jinene Gamboa, Roshanda Jackson, and Cristiana Vickers and Hayley Pierce of Traditions Hospice.

Funeral services for Elaine Tate Walling are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas.