Janath Ann Casto Walters

Janath Ann Casto Walters, affectionately called Jan, Mom, Grandma and Mema by her beloveds, passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Born; January 29th, 1932, Jan grew up in “God’s Country, West Virginia”. She was born in Dunbar, but lived and grew up in the Pocatalico River District of Poca, West Virginia. She graduated from Poca High School, whose mascot is the “Dot”. Jan was an eager student with excellent grades. She held an infectious vibrance as exemplified by her leadership as the Poca Dot’s Majorette.

Jan’s father Hubert provided for his family of 8 by serving his small community as its only barber. Jan was a gorgeous blue-eyed blonde who was doted on by her parents, older sister and 4 older brothers. Times were hard in the 30’s, but Janath Ann wore beautiful garments made from flour sacks and ribbon. She used a dressing table made from vegetable crates adorned with a table skirt made from scrap cloth. Her brothers worked hard to help the family and provided Jan with luxuries most girls her age went without. Jan’s mother, Sadie, was a talented homemaker who valued making the best of what you owned by treating it with love and care.

After graduation from high school Jan attended Berea College in Kentucky. There she met and “…fell in love at first sight with Dean Walters’ son Roy, Jr.” Jan and Roy were married in Danforth Chapel on the college campus in 1951. Roy Jr. left Berea for the US Airforce and Jan soon followed. It was at Roy’s first duty station in San Antonio where they had their first son, Steven Casto Walters. Jan and Roy’s family grew as they moved back to Berea and welcomed their second child, Carol Ann, who passed away from respiratory illness after 6 months. They welcomed another beautiful baby girl born in 1957, named Catherine Elaine. Another handsome son, Jeffrey Scott followed 1961 when they moved to Morganton. Jan and Roy would later adopt another daughter, their youngest, Connie Ann.

In 1959 Jan and Roy moved their family to Morganton. Jan attended nursing school at Western Piedmont Community College in the 1970’s. Her nursing career spanned over 40 years. She served her patients lovingly at Grace Hospital, Broughton Hospital and even though she officially retired in the mid 90’s; her fellowship with friends there lasted throughout the remainder of her life.

The Walters family of 5 spent many happy years in Morganton, NC. Roy Jr. passed in February 2020. A couple of years after his passing, Jan moved to Walnut Cove, NC where she exercised advanced health care options and spent more quality time with her oldest children, Elaine and Steven who lived close by.

Jan passed February 21, 2024 from complications of end-stage Parkinson’s Disease. Jan’s beauty and zest for life, lives on in her amazing children: Steven Casto Walters (Nancy), Catherine Elaine Whicker (Warren), Jeffrey Scott Walters, Connie Walters Brockland, (Rob), and beloved Grandchildren (in order of birth): Nathan W. Whicker (Elizabeth), Dalton Walters, Lindsi McNeely (Brigham), John Martin Whicker, Christina Carpenter (Taylor), Rebecca Frost (Jordan), Andrew Walters, Janath “Katie” Brockland, and Benjamin Brockland. Love is the greatest gift one generation can leave another and Jan considered herself blessed with three generations to love including her great grandchildren: Marley Johnson, Katherine Whicker, Isabella Frost, Hadley Whicker, Kinsley Frost, Tucker Carpenter, and Dominic McNeely.

Services for Jan will be held Saturday, March 9th at 2:00pm at Burkemont Baptist Church. The family will receive friends and loved ones immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jan and Roy Walters Scholarship Fund, c/o Western Piedmont Foundation, 1001 Burkemont Ave., Morganton, NC 28655 or to Mountain Valley Hospice, 1427 Edgewood Drive, Suite 101, Mt. Airy, NC 27030.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.