Constance V. Walters, 93

Constance "Connie" V. Walters passed away peacefully in the early evening on Feb. 1, 2015, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. She was 93.

Connie relocated here last year to be close to the family members most important to her after living for 70 years in Riverside, Calif. Before her passing, Connie established a new home and many friends here at the Bestland Senior Living community.

Connie was born April 19, 1921, in Utica, N.Y. She grew up with her sisters in San Bernardino, Calif., with their parents, Harry Mann and Julia Sias Everett.

Connie graduated from St. Bernadine's High School and then, like many women of the time, took a job to support our efforts during World War II. She was an aircraft assembler at Norton Air Force Base where she worked on the underbelly ball turrets of B-29 bomber aircraft. During this time she met and married her lifelong husband, Donald L. Walters, a wartime Marine who served two tours in Guadalcanal. They were married for 53 years until his passing in 1997.

When Donald returned, they made their home in Riverside where Connie happily became a full-time homemaker, and Donald worked for the So. California Gas Company until retirement. The couple had two sons. Connie was very active in their school life, and later was most proud of the fact that both sons served and retired from the Riverside Police Department.

In retirement, Connie and Donald traveled throughout the United States. They enjoyed visiting the national parks and putting on well-known and well-attended parties - especially on the Fourth of July.

Connie loved animals of all kinds, and spent her final years fawning over her special dog 'Honey.' She was an exceptionally kind person who had a high degree of empathy for all living things.

Connie was preceded in death by her husband, Donald. She is survived by her sons Donald D. Walters of Hayden, Idaho, and Carl R. Walters of Big Bear, Calif., and their families which include four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Connie's love of children was boundless, and there are many more whose lives she touched and who proudly call her "Grammy Connie." She is deeply missed.

Services will be held in Riverside where Connie will be laid to rest alongside her best friend, her husband.