Elwood “Pic” W. Walton, Jr. ’45

Elwood “Pic” W. Walton, Jr. ’45, 87, of Hickory, N.C., passed away on April 13 at Palliative Care Center and Hospice of Catawba Valley. Born in Hickory on April 11, 1924, he was the son of the late Elwood W. Walton, Sr. and Marion M. Walton. Walton attended Davidson and, after graduation, entered the U.S. Army. Upon his return from the U.S. Army, he entered Lenoir-Rhyne College, where he graduated. After college, he went into business with his father at Walton Knitting Mills, Inc., founded in 1934. Upon the death of his father, he took over the management of the mill, which was sold in 1988. The mill was a charter member of the Catawba Valley Hosiery Association, and he was the third president as well as co-chairman of the first two hosiery shows held in Hickory. The mill also received the first “Mill of the Year” award given out by the Catawba Valley Hosiery Association. He was a charter member of the Hickory Junior Chamber of Commerce and was the last charter member to age out. Also, he was a member of the Hickory Rotary Club. Walton was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, serving many years in the vestry and as junior warden of the church. He also served as chairman of the committee to put new stained glass in the church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nell Barkley Walton, of Hickory and formerly of Gastonia. He is survived by two sons, Robert H. Walton and William W. Walton, 840 4th Ave. NW, Hickory, NC 28601; two sisters, Margaret Anne Heafner and Elizabeth Reid Frye; and a number of nieces and nephews.