Louise Martin DeWalt

Obituary of Louise Russell Martin DeWalt

Louise Russell Martin DeWalt of Hilton Head Island, SC., died on May 12, 2018. Born on May 26, 1923 in New Bedford, MA. to Robert Martin and Emma Russell Martin. Her dream even as a young child was to become a teacher. She, her daughter and granddaughter all graduated from Wheelock College. Louise married Earl W. DeWalt in 1943 and during their 67 years of marriage enjoyed an exciting and adventuresome life. While living in Mattapoisett, MA and raising three children, Louise began her lifelong interest in art at the Swain School of Design. She belonged to the Cape Cod Artists Association, winning the Best of Show Award while a member. For twenty years the family lived at Red Brook Farm in Marion, MA with their three children Susan, Sarah and Peter. Everyone in the family was engaged in one sport or another. Louise was partial to racing her Herreshoff 12 ½ footer. Tennis and duplicate bridge became favorites of both Earl and Louise. An avid gardener, she was a member of the Marion Garden Club, volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and devoted time to the youth organization at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church. A chance to teach came when the children went away to school. This was a very rewarding period in life for Louise. When Earl partially retired, they bought a vacation home in Florida and started a cruising life. The culmination of which led them to buy a Grand Banks Trawler which they christened “Sea Song”. Eventually they decided to live on “Sea Song”, which they did for 10 years. They cruised the Bahamas extensively and did the circuit from Florida to the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi to New Orleans, across the Gulf of Mexico and back to Florida. The DeWalt’s moved to the Cypress of Hilton Head in 2000. Both had a good time playing croquet and duplicate bridge. Earl passed away on February 10, 2011. Louise is survived by her daughter Sarah DeWalt Cunningham of Hilton Head Island, SC and Mattapoisett, MA; son, Peter DeWalt and his wife Toby of Appleton, ME; grandchildren, William Vincent and his wife Inga of Ridgefield, CT, Lisa Antulonis and her husband Will Laughlin of Manahawkin, NJ, Sarah Roberts Filandrianos and her husband Ted of Duxbury, MA, Meghan DeWalt Barker and her husband Tim of Belfast, ME, Justin DeWalt of Portland, ME and Leland DeWalt of Portland, ME; and great-grandchildren Daniel Vincent, Benjamin, Zachary and Eliza Roberts and Wyatt Barker. She was predeceased by her daughter, Susan DeWalt Harrison of Venice, FL. A private service will be held at a later date at the historic “Seaman’s Bethel” in New Bedford, MA. Arrangements by The Island Funeral Home and Crematory. islandfuneralhome.com
A Memorial Tree was planted for Louise
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at The Island Funeral Home & Crematory
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