Marie Walter McConnell of Covington, GA died Friday May 14, 2010 at her residence. She was born on April 3, 1919 in Carney's Point, NJ to the late Martin E. and Gerda Victoria Erickson Carlson. She was a life-long member of Covenant United Methodist Church of Springfield, Pa., and local attendant of First United Methodist Church in Covington, Ga. and Crossroads United Methodist Church in Conyers, Ga. She was a teacher and high school Librarian for 42 years. She loved reading all types of literature and writing letters by hand. Until the last few months of her life she read three or four books and wrote 25 letters a week. She also was a life long student having attained her graduate degrees at night over a many year period. Her middle name was Willhememia and because of that her friends always called her Billie. She was very proud of her Swedish heritage. Both of her parents were born in Sweden, 100 miles apart, but never met until after they immigrated to Philadelphia. Mrs. McConnell is survived by sons Kevin J. Walter of Covington, Ga., Bradford O. Walter, of Punta Gorda, Fl.; step-son Mark McConnell of Lewiston, Idaho; grandson Nicolas C. Walter of Covington, Ga.; and step-grandchildren William Wallick, Lee Wallick, Cpt. Sean McConnell USAF, Courtney Weathers, and Taylor Terlson. She is preceded in death by husbands Ralph G. McConnell and Harry Walter; son H. Martin Walter; and her parents. Services will be held at First United Methodist Church in Covington on Friday May 21, 2010 at Noon with Pastors Doug Gilreath and Hannah Garrett-Johnson officiating. Interment will be at the family plot in West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. on Saturday May 22, 2010 at 2:00 PM following a service at noon that day at Covenant United Methodist Church in Springfield, Pa. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Covenant United Methodist Church Library, 212 W. Springfield Rd., Springfield, Pa., 19064. Guest may sign the online register book at www.wheelerfuneralhome.com.
