Patricia ‘Patti’ Ann (Moore) Walter, enjoyed quilting

Patricia “Patti” Ann (Moore) Walter went home to be with the Lord Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Beebe Healthcare after a very brief, less than 48-hour, illness. She was comforted by her husband, Jesse W. Walter Jr. who was by her side. Jesse lost his loving companion of 38 years and John Foster lost his mother who gave birth to him and loved him for all of his 51 years.   

Patti was born Dec. 9, 1947, in the Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, D.C. She was the daughter of William B. Moore and Bessie (Bowers) Moore. She grew up in Kensington, Md., graduating from Einstein High School in 1965. Patti attended the University of Maryland, eventually supervising the payroll department as assistant treasurer of Weaver Bros. Inc. in Chevy Chase, Md., until the company was sold. She later worked for the International City Manager’s Association Retirement Corporation handling retiree accounts until her own retirement.  

Patti and Jesse met and married at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Greenbelt, Md., March 13, 1982. Patti and Jesse served on various boards and positions within the congregation until they moved to their home in Millsboro.  

After they were married, they combined their households into Jesse’s Hyattsville, Md. house. They spent many hours of their spare time remodeling and updating their circa 1880 home. The old house was the scene of many happy family gatherings and celebrations.   

Patti’s sister Joanne and Glenn Brown, and niece Liz Brown moved to Plantation Lakes in 2007, and her sister Dorothy to a home in nearby Long Neck. Those moves and retirement discussions were helpful. All paths then led to Patti and Jesse’s purchase of their retirement home in the Millsboro development in Plantation Lakes.  Patti and Jesse enjoyed participating in their active community. Patti’s participation in Quilts of Valor primed her recent interest in quilting. Recently Patti finished some quilts that were started by her late sister Joanne. Patti and Jesse also enjoyed vacationing in the Florida Keys and taking their antique fire truck to truck shows.  

Besides her husband, Patti is survived by a son from a previous marriage, John R. Foster (Debbie Allinson); a sister Marguerite Moore of Ashburn, Va.; a sister Dorothy J. Moore of Cumming, Ga.; and a brother Walter D. Moore and his wife Joan (Settle) of Martinsburg, W.Va. She is predeceased by a sister, Joanne Brown and her husband Glenn M. Brown Sr.; a brother, William (Mary Jo) Moore; and brothers-in-law Marvin K. Moore and George Dabrowski. She also leaves many loving family members and friends. 

Her illness and passing were quite sudden. On Tuesday, Nov. 10, she did some shopping for a craft project, easy roll-up pillowcases, at Serendipity Quilt Shop in Dagsboro. In the past year, quilting replaced her longtime knitting hobby that arthritic pain had ended. Many expectant family, co-workers and friends had received knitted baby blankets at baby showers or birth announcements. Early in the morning, Patti said she just wanted to make a solo trip that was not a medical appointment or picking up a prescription at the drive-up. Patti was quite proud that she had negotiated her walker in and out of the car and into the store. She brought Jesse a McDonald’s chocolate shake and lamented that her favorite strawberry was out and she had to be satisfied with vanilla. Cobb salads were ordered for delivery from Porto Restaurant in Dagsboro. That Tuesday was their last very nice “normal” day together and Jesse will treasure it in his memory.  

Patti was a breast cancer survivor and celebrated five years cancer-free in June of 2020. They had planned to have a celebratory dinner at Bagatelle, the same restaurant where they enjoyed many dinners after their first visit on their 1982 honeymoon in Key West.  They found their new handicapped ramp on their 2019 visit.  

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Patti’s name to the: Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition Inc., 18977 Munchy Branch Road, Unit 1, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, or if supporting veterans, the Quilts of Valor of Southern Delaware; be sure to include “Group #52476” on your form of payment, and mail to Quilts of Valor Foundation, Attn:  Group # 52476, PO Box 191, Winterset, IA 50273; and finally, for the those who like Patti enjoy reading, Friends of the Millsboro Public Library, c/o Millsboro Public Library, 217 West State St., Millsboro, DE  19966.

Interment/inurnment plans are incomplete. A memorial service where people can gather freely is being planned for some time after pandemic restrictions free up family gatherings. Patti would not have been comfortable scheduling an event that would require others to travel in these unpredictable times.    

Arrangements by Melson Funeral Services, Millsboro. The website for the funeral home is www.melsonfuneralservices.com.