Esther Koren Wallat

Esther Koren Wallat of Stoney Brook Court, Valdese, NC died unexpectedly Monday, March 19, 2007 at Grace Hospital, Morganton. She was born in Hopewell, VA on February 27, 1935 and was a daughter of John and Julia Buchek Koren. Esther was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Words cannot fully express how much she was loved by all who knew her and how deeply she will be missed. She retired after 25 years of employment from Belk Department Store of Morganton where she truly enjoyed making friends and serving her customers. Since her retirement she remained active through exercise, walking, cooking, shopping and working in her flower gardens. Esther was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church where she served as a greeter and as a member of the altar guild. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a brother, John Koren.

Surviving are her husband of 51 years, Ernest Wallat of the home; daughters, Kathy Womack of Hartsville, SC and Krista Stillwell and her husband, Scott of Morganton; granddaughters, Brandi Widel, Kandi Womack, and Chastity Sorrells; great grandson, Hunter Byrd; brother, Gerald Koren and his wife, Wanda of Hopewell, VA; sisters, Eleanor Novotny and her husband, Joseph of Baton Rouge, LA, and Betty Head and her husband, James of Glendale, AZ; and her beloved grand kittys, Emma and Little Lu.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2007 at Calvary Lutheran Church, Morganton, NC with the Rev. Dr. Michael F. Riley officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, Valdese, NC. The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Sossoman Funeral Home. Memorial gifts may be made to Calvary Lutheran Church, 119 N. King St., Morganton, NC 28655 or to the American Heart Association, Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, Memorials and Tributes Processing Center, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216.