Obituaries

Wathena Carol Stewart

Photo of Wathena Carol Stewart
Wathena "Tina" Carol Stewart, age 80, of Eldon, Mo., passed away peacefully Friday, September 14, 2012, at the Eldon Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Tina was born October 16, 1931, in St. James, Mo., a daughter of James and Mary Ellen Johnson. She was married on November 17, 1967, in St. Louis County to Luther Paul Stewart Jr., who preceded her in death in 2005. Tina attended high school in Arbyrd, Mo., graduating in 1949. She lived several years in Southeast Missouri near Senath. She moved to St. Louis in 1952 and worked for McDonnell Aircraft in the aerospace division where she met her beloved husband Paul Stewart, a senior aeronautical space engineer. She retired in 1968 when her son Matthew Paul Stewart was born. Tina and Paul moved to their weekend home at the Lake of the Ozarks on Horseshoe Bend to live there full time when Paul retired from McDonnell Douglas in 1978. They built a home in Eldon in 1996 in order for Matthew to live near his employment with the Gateway Industries sheltered workshop. Tina was active in her church, the Ninth Street Christian Church in Eldon, and enjoyed reading, bible studies and visiting with her many friends. Survivors include her son, Matthew P. Stewart, of the home in Eldon; two daughters Caron S. Mathis of Tucson, Ariz. and Cathy D. Waltz (husband Randy) of Jefferson City, Mo.; one brother, James D. Johnson of Gainesville, Fla.; two grandsons, Benjamin Orr of Tucson, Ariz. and Joshua I. Waltz (wife Elizabeth) of Arvada, Colo.; two great-grandchildren, Kadyn Orr of Tucson, Ariz. and Abigail D. Waltz of Arvada, Colo.; and by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister, Betty Jones of St. Clair, Mo. Visitation will be at the Phillips Funeral Home in Eldon, Mo., on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with services at the funeral home on Thursday, September 20, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Chris Reynolds, minister. The services will be followed by burial in Moberly, Mo., where she will rest in eternal peace next to her beloved husband, Paul Stewart. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to the Ninth Street Christian Church in Eldon, Mo.

Published September 16, 2012