Thea Jo Walton

Thea Jo Walton, born Thea Jo Crawford on June 3, 1948, in Iowa, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2026, at her home in Midland, North Carolina. She was 77 years old.

Thea was the kind of woman who made everywhere feel like home. She loved spending time with family, was a wonderful cook, and enjoyed working in her rose garden.

She dedicated 50 years of her career as a Dietetic Technician at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics — a fitting calling for someone who so naturally took care of others.

Thea was a true example of a working mother who balanced career and family with grace. She would rise early each morning so that she could be home every afternoon when her children walked through the door after school.

Thea and her devoted husband, Robert James Walton, were married for 60 years and raised their family in the Catholic faith. She is survived by Robert; their three children, Robert Jr. (Melanie) and their children R. James and Elizabeth; Kimberly (Rob) and their children Kyle, Katharyn (Nick), and Savannah; and Kelly (Kevin) and their children Abbigail, James, and Olivia; along with a growing number of great-grandchildren, all of whom she cherished deeply. She is also survived by her two sisters, Corliss Donovan and Lyla Erwin.

She was the daughter of Lyle James Crawford and Frances Elnora Amlong Crawford, both preceding her in death. She also had four brothers and two sisters that preceded her in death.

A celebration of life service will be held in Iowa, her home state, with the date to be determined. Thea’s rose garden will bloom again this spring, a gentle reminder of the love she left behind.