Ellen Creel Walter, age 86, a native Alexandrian, quietly slipped away during her sleep to be with her Heavenly Father on Thursday, May 19, 2011, following her recent hospitalization.The viewing will be held to greet family and friends on Sunday, May 22 from 2- 4 pm and 6-8 pm at Cunningham Funeral Home located at 811 Cameron Street, Alexandria. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 23 at 1 pm from Franconia Baptist Church located at 5912 Franconia Road, Alexandria. Interment will be at Ivy Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Lupus Foundation and/or Alzheimer’s Foundation. Ellen was born on May 16,1925, in the Del Ray section of Alexandria. She was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin Kemper Creel and Bertha Naff and her hushand of 49 years, William Watson Walter. She is survived by her brother, Dr. Austin Bowman Creel of Rockville, Maryland, and her sister Betty Lee Creel Johnson of Manteo, North Carolina. She is survived by her three children, William Watson Walter, Jr and wife Mary Elizabeth Ginn of Culpeper, Mary Ellen Walter of Alexandria, and Debra Ann Walter Ludwick and husband John Alexander of Alexandria. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, William Watson Walter, III of Richmond, Cristy Lynn Walter Robinson of Richmond, Keri Ellen Walter Nicholson of Culpeper, Lisa Nicole Ludwick Russell, Lori Ann Ludwick, John Christopher Ludwick and Lindsey Marie Ludwick of Alexandria. Also surviving are seven great-grandchildren, Cooper James Robinson and Ryder Brennan Robinson, Natalie Taylor Nicholson, Sean Tyler Russell, Chase Joseph Russell, Tierney Renee Ludwick,and Alina Lauryn Ludwick. She is also survived by nieces Kathy Creel Suarez of Bethesda, Maryland, Donna Johnson Pique of Springfield, and Melinda Johnson Collier of Ruckersville and their families. She is preceded by nephew Steven D. Creel of Gainesville, Florida. Her love is also extended to many other relatives and friends. Ellen attended George Washington High School in Alexandria. Married Watson Walter and later they moved the family to Franconia in 1956 which was a more “country-like setting” at that time. She became involved in the community and was a Life Member of Ladies Auxillary of the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department, Life Member of the Rebekah’s of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, and original member of the Franconia Baptist Church. She is widely known in the community as “Ms Claus” having served in that role for over 35 years both at Landmark and Springfield Shopping Malls as she greeted the young children and helped them sit on Santa’s lap. She truly enjoyed this time of year. Ellen was a loving, caring, and giving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her love also extended as a care-giver for her husband in the later years. She was the type of person who always put her family and friends first before herself. She was always ready to extend a helping hand to others. Whether she was called Mom, Ellen, Ms. Claus, Grandma or simply Gram, Ellen was greatly loved by her family and friends and will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Her laughter, sense of humor, love of people and that twinkle in her eye will long be remembered.

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