Biography: Katherine Lightle Walton Harpole died Saturday, October 29, 2016 after a brief illness. Born in Clarksdale, MS to Thomas Harris Walton and Mary Noel Baird Walton, she spent her first fourteen years in Laurel, MS. Her family moved to Crossett, Arkansas where she graduated high school in 1965. She attended Hendrix College where she met her best friend and future husband, John on a blind date. Planning to transfer to Ole Miss was quickly shelved, and she followed John to Mississippi State, marrying at semester their senior year. The Harpoles moved to Memphis for Katherine to attend Memphis State and receive her masters in English. She and John settled in Little Rock where she was a homemaker, taking care of the children. Katherine became a tireless member and supporter of Grace Presbyterian where she served on various committees and sang in the choir. Katherine also taught English at UALR, Pulaski Tech, and spent her final years of teaching at Pulaski Academy. Katherine was an avid reader, always on her IPad waiting for the next eBook. She loved working in her yard and tending to her plants. She was a lover of chocolate, and admittedly kept secret stashes from her children. John hid candy bars in the house in odd places for her to find and delighted in her discoveries. She loved family get- togethers, playing bridge with friends, traveling with the Babes and spending time at the river with her girlfriends. Katherine enjoyed attending MSU football games and tailgating with her family and fellow Bulldogs. Late nights with the Oswalt girls and yearly trips with the Walton clan to the beach, topped her list. Katherine?s daily therapy sessions were her morning walks with her college friend, Margaret. She made sure that she voted in this election and proudly wore her ?I voted early? sticker. She was touched and strengthened by the cards, texts, food, ?happys? and calls she received from family and friends over the past few months. Predeceased by her mother, Mary Noel Walton, she is survived by her husband of 47 years, John Harpole; her daughter, Katy Harpole Smith (Damon) of Pensacola, FL; her son, Douglas Harpole and grandchildren, Conner, Julianna, and Carter of Little Rock; her father, Thomas Harris Walton of Little Rock ; her brother, Campbell Walton (Van) of Charlotte, NC; her brother, Dr. Robert Walton of Batesville, AR; her sister, Martha Thannisch (Ray) of Little Rock; her sister-in-law, Julia Harpole Oswalt (Gary) of Ackerman, MS; her mother-in-law, Annie Harpole of Louisville, MS and generations of nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 4, at Grace Presbyterian Church, 9301 N Rodney Parham Rd Little Rock, AR 72227. A reception will be held after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials made to Melanoma Research UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Slot 623-F, 4301 W Markham Little Rock, AR 72205. The family would like to thank the staff at UAMS, Baptist Home Health, and Hospice Home Care for their wonderful care and support.