Mary Margaret Popp Walker, 88, of Kingwood, passed peacefully away at her home on Monday, April 1, 2024, with family by her side.
She was born to the late Steve F. Popp and Mary (Vagda) Popp of Morgantown on June 27, 1935, in Fairmont.
She graduated from Morgantown High School in 1953. Mary was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church of Kingwood for over 60 years and served on many committees. She was instrumental with the remodeling of the church and parsonage. Mary was also a 65+ year member of the Rowlesburg Order of Eastern Star Chapter #127. She enjoyed helping youth organizations such as BSA, GSA, band and soccer and working at the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department monthly breakfasts. Mary was the recipient of the 2018 Kingwood Citizen of the Year award.
Besides co-owning Walker Motor Co. with her husband for over 25 years, Mary worked at Preston Memorial Hospital in the business office until her retirement. She also served on the PMH Board (1982-1988).
Mary was best known as the “Teddy Bear Lollipop Lady.” She started Candies by Mary in 1988 and retired February 2024. For many years, it wasn’t uncommon for family and friends to help Mary with selling her delicious candies at fairs and festivals in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. She especially enjoyed selling her candies and the thousands of Teddy Bear Lollipops at the Preston County Buckwheat Festival. In later years, she sold her candies at local businesses and helped organizations with their fund-raising projects.
She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 50 years, James “Jim” Walker (2002), oldest brother Steve Popp (2002), sister-in-law June Popp (2010), daughter Judith Ann “Judy” Walker (2019), and brother Adolph Popp (2020). She is survived by son Joe and his wife Lee Anne (Royce) Walker of Kingwood; granddaughter Susie (Fletcher) Greenwood and husband Paul and a very special great-granddaughter Ava Greenwood all of Weston; sister-in-law Chris Popp of Fayetteville, N.C., and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family would like to thank the church congregation and all of her many friends for the prayers, cards, food, flowers and phone calls during her brief illness. Special thanks to all the wonderful staff at WV Caring for providing such good care of Mary these past few weeks.
Friends will be received on Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 3-7 p.m. at the Kingwood Funeral Home, 295 S. Price St., Kingwood; and on Friday, April 5, 2024, from 11 a.m., until the time of the funeral service at the Wesley United Methodist Church at 107 W. High St., Kingwood, at noon with the Rev. Jonathan Nettles officiating. Interment will be in the Maplewood Cemetery in Kingwood at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mary to Wesley United Methodist Church, 107 W High St., Kingwood, WV 26537 towards the new pew cushion fund, WV Caring, P.O. Box 760, Arthurdale, WV 26520 or St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
