Wendy Walton (8 Mar 1934 - 27 Apr 2024)

We all have our own personal and special memories of Wendy, and would all agree that she was a caring, kind, thoughtful and selfless soul.

She was always smiling and welcoming and made you feel at home wherever you were. Wendy was a good listener who made time for everyone and nothing was too much trouble.

To Wendy, John and her family were everything. She was the perfect mom and grandma who was always on hand to listen, advise and comfort no matter when or where.

She treated everyone with respect and her motherly ways left a lasting impression on everyone here and all who met her.

Wendy was born in Berrington village hospital in 1934 in her beloved Shropshire, daughter of Ethel Alice and Fred Broxton. She lived in Furnace Lane in the then village of Trench for the first two years of her life.

In 1936 the family moved to Kingswinford when Fred; an Engineer by trade; gained employment at John Thompsons Engineering nearby.

Two and a half years later Wendy welcomed a little sister Beryl, and the Broxton family was complete.

Wendy and Beryl’s childhood was a happy one despite the war going on around them. The regular trips to the air raid shelters bringing a sharp dose of reality to the sister’s otherwise ideal world. Sheltering in the local Manor House basement during the raids,where all the fruit was stored, afforded the opportunity to add some apples to the meager family rations.

The sisters played together all the time and Beryl remembers Wendy pushing her around in a pram for many long hours and this continued beyond the age at which Beryl would normally want to be pushed around.

Fred being an Engineer liked to keep everything in his shed in precise order with every jar containing individual items of nuts bolts screws etc, which afforded the girls the best environment to play shopkeepers, each weighing out the nuts and bolts pretending them to be the sweets that the war rationing would not let them enjoy for real.

Sometimes this shed would playfully become a village hospital and Wendy would treat various fictional illnesses on her ever-present little sister, helping to provide early training for Beryl’s future career as a nurse.

An early example of Wendy’s kindness was when the young Beryl would suffer prolonged bouts of earache. When they were in bed together Wendy would let Beryl rest her ear against her cheek to keep it warm and soften the discomfort This would go on for hours until Beryl fell asleep but Wendy was happy to do this for someone she so loved.

Wendy attended St Mary’s Primary School and was generally happy there although she was regularly late attending. Ironically this included an assembly dedicated to time keeping which she was late for, despite living opposite the school.

Her sons will confirm that this trait continued throughout her whole life.

Education continued for Wendy at Kingswinford Secondary School where at the age of 16, she first met John, who was to become the love of her life and they became a couple devoted to each other from then on.

While John was away on national service Wendy and Beryl would head off to Clee Hills on Beryls Vespa. When John returned, he also purchased a scooter and the three of them would regularly make summer trips around the country, which is where Wendy’s love of exploring new places began.

Wendy and John were engaged when Wendy was 18 and they were married at Kingswinford Church 3 years later. The happy couple moved into Kingsley Road where they lived for the remainder of their lives.

The newly married couple would love to go dancing during those early years. They would regularly enter dancing competitions and won awards for their moves – the original Strictly couple. Wendy also loved to sing along to the tunes as they danced. Now anyone who knew Wendy, or latterly sat next to her in Church, will also recognize that Wendy could not sing in tune. However when quizzed about this by her sons she felt she was singing like an angel and undeterred would carry on. John must have had the patience of a saint.

Wendy worked as a secretary at Gideons during the first few years of married life and 4 ½ years later baby Andrew was born and she progressed from solely being a wife to being a wife and mother.

Over the following 8 years Richard and then Mark arrived to complete the Walton family.

At weekends the family would have regular days out at the seaside, Clee hills or a particular favourite of Wendy’s was the Stiperstones in Shropshire. Wendy’s love of exploring new places and sharing this passion for learning with her family was an important element that defined her life. Wendy and Beryl would also go on day trips in the UK or longer trips away around Europe.

The caring stable family environment Wendy and John created prepared the boys for their future lives. Their childhood memories are of a happy and safe environment with laughter filling the house.

Wendy always took the photographs and wanted to make memories of every occasion or experience. This meant that there are an abundance of pictures detailing the family life even though she was rarely in them, demonstrating once again her selfless trait. Ironically, her camera skills were initially more humorous than professional with many photos of family events showing too much sky or subjects missing heads and feet but her perseverance was endearing and the photos provide a lasting memory of those happy times.

As the boys grew up, Wendy returned to work and new and lasting friendships were made wherever she went. These friendships she valued for the rest of her life and gave her much enjoyment and comfort.

When her sons left home and got married, Wendy’s loving nature continued as she welcomed daughters into the Walton family with open arms. Lizzie, Janet and Lumi instantly felt at home in Wendy’s nest and she enjoyed their company and conversation immensely.

Education and Learning were a priority for Wendy, a trait of hers that she instilled in not only her sons but more latterly her grandsons Jack, Ben, Jonathan and Aidan. Even when retired Wendy and John would love to take the grandchildren on day trips to places of interest like Severn Valley Railway, Dudley Zoo, Blackpool Illuminations and Portsmouth or simply to the Park.

Her grandsons remember a loving, attentive and doting grandma who was always ready to get out the paints, bake and decorate the biscuits, play football or set up train sets. And Grandmas house was always full of treats which she was always happy to share.

The church was a constant and ever present feature throughout Wendy’s life and she was a regular and active member of the church ‘family’ at St Marys Kingswinford. The church proving comfort and strength during happy and challenging times.

All Wendy’s life she enjoyed being active, especially walking. Whether it was taking the dog with Enid, going to Church, trips up the Wrekin or a stroll on the common whilst John was sat in the car waiting for her, Wendy would embrace the outdoors.

When she retired, Wendy and John continued to travel providing them with new experiences like meeting Santa in Lapland, viewing the Northern Lights in Iceland and numerous cruises including a lifelong dream to visit Santorini.

As the years rolled by, Wendy loved nothing more than to hear what her sons and daughters, and the 4 ever loved grandsons were doing, either in person or on regular and long phone calls.

Following Johns sad passing, Wendy continued to draw love and support from her family, faith and lifelong close friends as she came to terms with the loss of her soul mate. Whilst Wendy’s smile was never far from her face, her heart was broken but it was the strong bond of love with her family that helped her overcome the hardest challenge of her life.

Wendy was the kindest, most caring and accepting person you could wish to meet and know, always interested in people and wanting to help in any way she could if needed.

To say she will be greatly missed by all family and friends is a massive understatement but the consolation is that she will be reunited with her beloved John and parents.

God Bless You Wendy.

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