Jane Wilson Walling

Jane Wilson Walling, 97, died peacefully at the RiverMead Retirement Community in Peterborough, NH on January 12, 2013. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 3, 1915 to the late Joseph Wilson and his wife Hazel Ford Wilson, later Hazel Ford Shannon. Jane married Cheves Tompson Walling, a noted physical organic chemist, on September 16, 1940. They were married for 66 years and had five children. He predeceased her in 2007. Jane graduated from Vassar College in 1937 with a BA in History. At Vassar she handed out both campaign literature and joined a picket line for the first time, actions which shaped her life in the years to come as evidenced by her strong support of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960’s. With her children grown, Jane returned to school and earned an MA in Social Work in 1974 from the University of Utah. Jane’s life was one of service to her family, support of her husband’s academic life and participation in various socially progressive movements and organizations. She actively supported and volunteered in The League of Women Voters both in Utah and in New Jersey, the YWCA and Crossroads Urban Center of Salt Lake City, the Democratic Party, and various church related activities, most recently the Women’s Alliance of the Universalist Unitarian Church of Peterborough, NH. In 1991, Jane and Cheves retired to their long-time summer residence in Jaffrey, NH, after many years in Montclair, New Jersey and then Salt Lake City, UT. Jane loved to travel and shared her enthusiasm for adventure with her husband and children. She enjoyed giving and going to parties, loved music and the performing arts, arguing about politics, doing crossword puzzles and reading, passing many of these interests on to her children and grandchildren. She kept them all on their toes with her probing intellect, sharp observations and good sense of humor. Jane was a devoted wife and mother and a constant source of loving support for the whole family. She will be remembered with great love and affection by her children; Hazel and her husband David A. Nourse of Westborough, MA; Rosalind and her husband William Gumaer of Mountainair, NM; Cheves H.Walling and his wife Stella of Rindge, NH; Janie Jones of San Diego, CA; Barbara Frank of Cedar City, UT; her ten grandchildren; her nine great-grandchildren and the surviving members of her family; her half- sister Barbara Brorsen of Walnut Creek, CA and her step-brother Bruce Wilson of Atlanta, GA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salt Lake City YWCA, Shelter from the Storm, PO Box 257, Jaffrey, NH 03452, or a liberal democratic candidate of your choice.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on January 26, 2013 at the RiverMead Retirement Community.