Mr. Thomas Warren Walton, 71 of 1319 Concord St Shelby, departed this life on Thursday, February 3, 2022 at Atrium Health-Cleveland in Shelby. He was born on January 4, 1951 in Cleveland County, NC to the late Woodrow and Orgar Albert Walton.

Thomas graduated from Burns High School as one of the first integrated classes of the time. After graduation, he attended A & T State University for two years. Moving back to Shelby, he began working at Sherwin Williams as a salesperson. As an employee, he taught himself how to hang wallpaper eventually starting his own wallpaper hanging business, LTD Designs. His work and work-ethic led him to work with many residential and commercial properties both locally and interstate. Some of his noted local projects included First National Bank (now Bank of the Ozarks, Cleveland Memorial Hospital (now known as Atrium Health-Cleveland) and Cleveland Pines Nursing Center among others. His career spanned over 40 years.

Thomas traveled extensively with his job and for pleasure with the love of his life, his wife Shirley, never meeting a stranger wherever he or they were. He loved talking and would talk to a rock if it would talk back! He was a member of First Baptist Church in Lawndale, NC where he was a member since his youth. Outside of work and church, Thomas also volunteered as a counselor at Cleveland Crisis and Recovery Center before his health declined.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Quintin Rudisill and a brother, Woodrow Walton, Jr.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Shirley W. Walton; his children, Carlene Allison of Shelby, NC, Leon Wiley (Vickie Lynn)) of Hickory, NC and Monte Degree of San Diego, CA; one granddaughter, Heaven Wiley of Hickory, NC; his grand dog, Curtis; three brothers, Wayne Walton (Debra) of Shelby, Calvin Walton of Boiling Springs, NC and Charles Walton (Machele) of Charlotte, NC; two sisters, Margaret Walton-Davis (Anthony) of Atlanta, GA and Valeria Walton-Willis (Allen) of Charlotte, NC; two god-sons, Kristopher Evans and Chavis Sims; one aunt, Angeline Walton-Byrd (Odell) of Lawndale, NC; special cousin, Harold Parrish and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church in Lawndale, NC. Burial will take at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 PM until 1:00 PM. If attending the service or reception of friends, masks are required not optional. In addition, due to the seriousness and risks associated with Covid 19, the family has requested no hugging or embracing them at the service. They appreciate your cooperation and understanding.