IRVINGTON—In love and memory, Nina Catherine (de Angeli) Walls, born September 14, 1941, in Philadelphia, Pa., died January 30, 2022, in Irvington.
We mourn the sudden loss of Nina, who led an accomplished life following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Marguerite de Angeli, an award winning illustrator and author of children’s books; and her mother, Edna de Angeli, doctor and department head of classics at Lehigh University.
A lifelong learner, Nina earned a bachelor’s from Swarthmore College and went on to earn a master’s from Drexel University, a second master’s and ultimately a doctorate in history from the University of Delaware. Her dissertation explored “Art, Industry and Women’s Education at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women,” as the result of which she became a requested speaker on women’s history in the Philadelphia area.
In her later life, Nina followed her passion for women’s active participation in society by engaging in local politics and becoming the president of the local Democratic Party in her longtime hometown of Ridley Park, Pa. She spent her last years in the beautiful community of Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury, with many wonderful friends.
Nina was predeceased by her husband of nearly 50 years, William W. Walls Jr., whom she met at Swarthmore.
She is survived by her daughter, Deborah W. Davis (husband, Steve Decker); nieces, Valerie de Angeli (son, Xavier) and Robin Gilmore (husband, Rich and sons, Joe and Scott); and the extended de Angeli family.
We will forever be inspired by Nina’s quick smile, sparkling laugh, kindness to all she met, and love of learning and life.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
