Elisabeth Utzig Walker, 91, of Raleigh, North Carolina passed away unexpectedly on March 24, 2023. We truly feel at peace that she passed away on the birthday of her dearly beloved grandmother . . . her “Oma" whom she loved most in the world.

Elisabeth, aka Oma or Liz, was born on April 24, 1931, in Cologne, Germany. She lived the majority of her childhood in the town of Wittenberg where she attended school. She unfortunately lived in a war-torn country and had many incredible stories of atrocities and bravery during her years as a young teenager surviving World War II with her family. After the war, Wittenberg, which was in eastern Germany, came under the control of the Soviet Union. She managed to flee to the West to live with her grandmother in her late teens.

While there, she attended a university for two years. She also met and married her husband, Richard B. C. Williams, who was serving in the US Army stationed in Germany. Elisabeth gave birth to her first child, Richard Williams, on December 26, 1953. The midwife had to walk through a blizzard to reach her! She travelled via an ocean liner from England to the USA with her then newborn son. She and her husband settled in his hometown of Morganton, NC where her second child, Monika Williams Turner, was born on September 8, 1957. She lived and worked in various positions in Morganton accumulating many lifelong friendships while raising her family. She moved to Worcester, MA for two years and then to Burlington, NC where she married Francis Walker in 1972. There she lived and worked in retail and healthcare until her retirement in 1993. She and her husband moved to Raleigh, NC in 2000 to be closer to her family, primarily her grandchildren whom she loved and adored with her whole being. With failing health, she moved in with her daughter in 2021 until her death.

Elisabeth was predeceased by her husband, Francis Walker in 2010, as well as her father, Reinhard Utzig, her mother, Luise Utzig, a brother, Reinhard Utzig and most recently a sister, Renate Biedermann (all residing in Germany) a daughter-in-law, Jean Williams of Morganton, NC.

She is survived by her sisters in Germany: Ursula Madaj, Gisela Krawczyk and Monika Stibitz, her son, Richard Williams, of Morganton, her daughter, Monika Turner (Richard), of Raleigh, and grandchildren, Ashley Carswell of Morganton, Sara Robertson (Austin), Laura John (Daniel), William Turner (Mary), all of Raleigh, her beloved great grandchildren, Erin, Owen, Hudson and Charlotte (due May 2023) and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Graveside services will be held at Pine Forest Memorial Gardens in Wake Forest, NC on Thursday, March 30, at 3:00 pm with dessert and coffee afterwards for family and friends at the home of Richard and Monika Turner (11428 Dunleith Drive, Raleigh, NC).

We owe a multitude of thanks to the many medical doctors, practices and hospitals who cared for Oma over the years. Special thanks to caregivers Cassie Mozingo and Jennifer Vaughan and especially to Dr. Eva Manitius and staff for countless hours of support through the years.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Walk, c/o Team Happy Feet, 2005 Thorpshire Drive, Raleigh, NC 27615 or at ovarianawareness.org.