Ann Walls McCool, Walls Cottages owner
Ann Ellen Kenney Walls McCool, 96, passed away Monday, July 29, 2013, after a short illness.
Mrs. McCool was born Dec. 31, 1916, to the late Roy Kenney and Amy Moore Kenney in Portsville. The oldest of five children, Ann was preceded in death by brothers Charles, Lynn and Harvey and her sister Lauraline Schleicher.
Ann valued education and was encouraged and sponsored at Western Maryland College by her beloved Aunt Mattie Phillips. She graduated in 1938 with a degree in secondary education and got a job at Lewes High School where she taught English and social studies. In the winter of 1939, Ann met the love of her life, Bill Walls Sr., at a basketball game where his son was playing. They quickly fell in love, but unfortunately World War II had other plans. Bill was drafted and served in Asia, returning in 1946, when they married at White’s rooming house in Lewes. Ann became mother to Bill Jr. and later, grandmother to Bill’s four children and seven grandchildren, who all adored her.
Ann continued to teach at Lewes, then Cape Henlopen High School, for 34 years, until her retirement in 1973. She taught thousands of local children who remember her as a stern but fair teacher with a quick wit and a kind heart.
After the war, Ann and Bill purchased rental property in Rehoboth and began Walls Cottages and Apts., a business that would span 61 years. Over the years, she hosted five generations of Rehoboth visitors who were in essence, her extended family. After Bill’s death in 1966, Ann married Doyle McCool and the two of them led active social lives with Doyle’s many community activities until his death in 1983.
Ann continued to independently run the business year round, maintaining handwritten correspondence with over 5,000 customers annually. She kept reservations in a black and white composition book and did all math in her head; rarely, if ever, making an error.
A lifelong Democrat, Ann could articulate the virtues of her way of thinking in such a way to turn the most Republican heart blue. An avid reader, she loved biographies and was a true history buff, regaling a lucky listener with family, local and national history with great detail.
In addition to her parents and siblings, Mrs. McCool was preceded in death by her husbands Bill Walls and Doyle McCool; her Aunt Mattie Phillips; son Bill Walls,Jr.; and great-grandson Bobby Walls.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Mabel Kenney of Delmar; niece Linda Wootten of Delmar; nephew, Bruce Kenney and wife Cathy of Delmar; great-nieces Tammy Mears and husband Craig of Gumboro, Tracy Payne and husband Shane of Delmar, Faith Ann Richardson of Seaford, and Wendy Chambers of Sharptown, Md.; and great-nephew Bruce Kenney Jr. and wife Sandy of Delmar; and cousin Janet Phillips and husband Pete of Laurel. She is also survived by grandchildren Robert Walls and wife Jeannie of Magnolia, Michael Walls of Seaford, Judith Hammond and husband John of Lewes and Cyndi Martin and husband Pat of Lewes; and great-grandchildren Tammy Bryant of Marietta, Ga., Mark Walls of Lewes, Laura Hammond and husband Shane of Ocean View, Bill Walls of Lewes, Ed Weaver of Hartly and Tom Martin of Charlotte, N.C.; and numerous great-great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.
Funeral services will be held on Monday Aug. 5, at 11 a.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes, where friends may call one hour prior to services. Friends may also visit Sunday, Aug. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Interment will follow the services at the Lewes Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Lewes.
Flowers are welcome.
