Irene Riggin Walston

Irene Riggin Walston, age 87, slipped away Saturday, February 21, 2009 to meet her Lord and Savior and waiting loved ones. She passed away at her residence in Cleveland, TN with her loving children by her side. She was a lifelong resident of Crisfield, Maryland where she was born on April 18, 1921 to Howard and Sadie Riggin. She spent her life lovingly as a housewife taking care of her husband and ten children. She loved her church, the Crisfield Church of God, where she served as the Ladies Willing Worker president, Sunday School teacher and choir member. Joining the church at the age of 9, her affiliation spanned 79 years. According to her family, Irene had a great love for the Lord and her family. If possible, she never missed a church service and was usually the last one to leave the premises. She faithfully prayed daily for her children, brothers and sisters and church family. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Walter Willard Walston, Jr., two of her sons, Walter Willard Walston, III and Ralph Lester Walston, Sr. Other family members gone before her were a granddaughter, Julie Rupert, brothers, Earl Riggin and Ralph Riggin and parents, Howard and Sadie Riggin.

Survivors include 8 children, Lois Walston, Cleveland, TN, Wayne Walston and wife, Sue; Ken Walston and wife, Sheila; Linda Rupert and husband, Eddie; and Gayle Hiddleson and husband, Vic, all of Cleveland, TN; Debbie Lawson and husband, Leo; Steve Walston and wife, Linda and Jan Adams and husband, Don all of Crisfield; daughter in law, Linda Faye Walston, (widow of Ralph Walston, Sr.), of Crisfield, MD; 15 grandchildren, Les Walston, Randy Walston, Adrienne Brown, David Walston, Rod Walston, Adam Walston, Stephanie Walston, Matthew Walston, Jeff Rupert, Jake Lawson, Caleb Hiddleson, Elijah Hiddleson, Lindsay Walston, Christian Walston and Emily Adams; two sisters, Jeannette Morgan and Elestine Pope; two brothers, John Riggin and Howard Lee Riggin; ten great grandchildren, Ralph Lester Walston III, Michael Walston, Hannah Walston, Meredith and Caleb Walston, Kennedy, Sydney, Corvin and Aly Brown and Addison Robinson. Also surviving her are many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life for Irene Riggin Walston will be held Wednesday, February 25, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. at the Crisfield Church of God on Maryland Ave. in Crisfield with Dr. Raymond Crowley and Rev. LeBron Palmer officiating. Interment will follow in Sunnyridge Memorial Park with grandsons serving as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of the deceased to Church of God World Missions on behalf of Benson and Cathy Vaughn Ministries.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, February 24, 2009, at the Bradshaw and Sons Funeral Home in Crisfield, Maryland.

Local arrangements are being handled by Grissom Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.grissomfh.net