Middletown transcript., 1897-07-17
NECR0LoGY.
MRS MARIA WALKER.

/ MRS. MARIA WALK EBs
Assuredly in The midst of life we are IN
death. On the 5th Of June Mrs. Maria
Walker, one of the best known ladies Of
Middletown, bade good by-io her friends
and left for her usual summer vacation as
she has done SO often before. Apparently
in the best of health when she left, the
community was shocked on Monday to
learn of her death at the residence of her
niece, Mrs. Cumberland in Philadelphia on
Monday morning at o'clock after an IL
ness of only four days. 1t seems that for sew
eral months Mrs. Walker mas been a sufferer
from enlargement of the liver, but bright
and cheerful in disposition she kept her
own sorrows to herself and her most inti-
mate friends knew not of her sufferings.
| Mrs. Walker was the relic Of. Martin E.
Walker. "a prominent citizen Of Middletown.
She was the daughter of Philip and Alice
Riley there being seven children. Mr.. Henry
G. Riley, of Bridgeton, N. J. being now the
only survivor. She was born on May 8,
1884 in Middletown and was married on
May IL, 1858. Besides host Of relatives
and friends she leaves three sons of whom
she was justly proud to mourn her death.
| They are Mr.. Horace NJ. Walker of New
York, Mr.. w. Irving Walker of Queen
Anne's, Nd. and Mr.. Martin E. Walker of
Wilmington. Del. They have been faith
full sons and she a devoted mother. The
expressions of sympathy towards them by
all who have known them in their younger
years in Middletown are universal.
Mrs, Walker was devoted church wo-
man, being reared as it were at Metho-
dist altar Kindly in her nature and sunny
in disposition her visits to the sick of high
and low degree were not confined by sec
tartan lines. She went where she could do
good and the poor will miss her ministra-
tions. No stronger testimonial to her char
acter could have been given than the at
tendance of the colored servants with tear
full cheeks at the funeral-servants in the
home fifteen years ago who remembered
the kindness of the mistress.
The remains were brought down on We'd
nesday morning accompanied by relatives
and friends. At the depot delegations from
her class, the W. C. T. u, and the Epworth
Lsague, met the funeral cortage with beau-
tiful floral tributes The remains were
taken to the NJ. E. Church where the large
attendance attested the esteem in which
she was held. Messrs. T. e. Hurn, w. P.
Biggs, J. w. Jolls, G. E. Hukill, J. G. Par
ker, and Geo. F. Wilson were pail bearers.
Rev. T. L. Wood. her pastor, spoke most
feelingly of her devotion to church, and all
its interests, and her ministrations to The
sick and the poor. He had not known in a.
pastorate of twelve years more faithful
Christian woman. He commented from the
following passages of scripture:
Set thine house in order for thou shalt
die and not liye.-Isaiah 35-1.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the
death of his saints.-Psalms 116-15.
For we know that if our earthly house Of
this tabernacle were dissolved, we have
building of God. house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens--2 Cor h--1-
Be thou faithful unto death. and will
give thee crown Of lifc.-Rev. 2-10.
In closing the preacher said Mrs. Walker
lived upon Gods promises and that to
speak of her on this occasion there was SO
much good that could be said it was not
necessary to hesitate in paying tribute.
Interment was made at the church yard
at the eastern entrance near the gate.