Helen Walton, Widow of Sam Walton, Dies

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 4/23/2007 12:00:00 AM

Bentonville, Ark. —

Helen Robson Walton, widow of Wal-Mart Stores founder Sam Walton, died last Thursday evening, April 19, in her Bentonville home of natural causes. Surrounded by family at the time of her death, she was 87.

In lieu of flowers or cards, the Walton family requests that anyone wishing to offer a memorial in Helen Walton's honor do so by making a contribution to one of these organizations: Bentonville First Presbyterian Church , 901 Northeast J Street, Bentonville, AR 72712; The Helen R. Walton Children's Enrichment Center,1701 NE Wildcat Way, Bentonville, AR 72712; University of the Ozarks, Attn: Rick Niece, 415 N. College Ave., Clarksville, AR 72830.

Helen Robson and Sam Walton were married on Valentine's Day in 1943 in Claremore, Okla. In 1945, the couple opened their first retail store together, a Ben Franklin "five and dime" in Newport, Ark.

They moved to Bentonville five years later, and in 1962 the Waltons opened their first Wal-Mart store, in Rogers, Ark. Until his death in 1992, Sam considered Helen one of his best business advisors, and credited her for the original idea for the Wal-Mart profit-sharing plan.