A Tribute to Marsha Walper

Marsha Walper: QU Member 2007 (or earlier?) – 2025
Winner of QU’s Distinguished Quilter Award in 2015

In addition to making fabulous quilts, Marsha gave generously of her time to the guild.
A quick look at newsletters posted online shows her coordinating Sit N Stitch groups 2011–2015 and 2017–2018; chairing the Awards committee in 2016, heading up the Opportunity Quilt for 2018, chairing the Programs committee in 2019.
Other of her efforts didn’t carry titles. She taught a class on paper-pieced House Wall Hangings in 2016. She gave a guild presentation on color: pure hues, tints, tones, and shades (date not yet found). She created ribbons for at least one and probably several of the annual shows. She was a terrific editor and worked with the group that brought our notebooks on officer and chair duties into a format for posting online.

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“Our Quilting Community lost a great member in May 2025. Not everyone had the opportunity to meet and work with Marsha Walper. Those who knew Marsha will remember her with pride and passion.
She was a talented and compassionate school teacher and quilter, always willing to share her knowledge, research and patience. Marsha was very active in the guild until the unexpected death of her daughter, Meredith, and the onset of the COVID pandemic. These events changed the course of her life. With the constant love and support of her husband, Frank, Marsha decided to stay at home and work on unfinished projects which had accumulated over the years. My deepest sympathy goes out to Marsha’s grandchildren and the love of her life. Frank said Marsha was his Audrey Hepburn . . .
Marsha was known for her exquisite techniques and amazing challenge quilts. Some of her work will be on display at the August QU meeting and at the LeMoyne Quilt Show this fall. Take the time to get close and examine them — the details are incredible.
Marsha stayed optimistic and positive throughout her life. A beacon for us all to strive for. My life has been enriched by knowing her.”
— Jeanne Brenner

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” “Pinky”, the inspiration for this Kaleidoscope of Color, is the flamingo that came in with Hurricane Michael to the St. Mark’s Wildlife Refuge and Lighthouse on October 11, 2018. The word “flamingo” derives from the Spanish word for “flame-colored”. They are born a dull, gray color, but adults can be bright orange, pink, red, or pure white. Each feather is individually hand sewn onto the quilt.” — Marsha Walper

“The oranges in the center of this original block are found in the center of the Florida license plate. Orange blossoms, designated as the State Flower of Florida in 1909, surround the oranges. The sun represents ‘The Sunshine State’ which was adopted as the State Nickname in 1970.” — Marsha Walper

“In Costa Rica, I love the radiating stars painted on wheels of traditional oxcarts. This quilt allowed me to fulfill my dream of making radiating and other intricate stars. The overall design is original and the stars are variations of stars found in books by Judy Mathieson and Gail Garber.” — Marsha Walper

“Night-Blooming Cereus Connection” helps recall happy memories of my grandparent’s house on Sarasota Bay. After US-41 was rerouted along the bay, a tall condominium replaced their house in 1972.  The oak tree and night-blooming cereus, once in their front yard, remain, surrounded by a stone wall, in the condominium’s parking lot.”
— Marsha Walper

“This quilt was inspired by Maureen O’Doogan’s demonstration of cutting fabric without rulers and then sewing without pins. Her next instruction was to look around for inspiration and then design an art quilt. The quilting designs follow the curved lines and circles, which ‘play well together’ in the artistic process.” — Marsha Walper

“Hand-quilted rows of appliquéd and pieced borders are framed by miniature black piping. Spikes in the outside border contrast with the curved edges of the quilt. These borders come from Linda O’Sullivan’s classes and seem to be all lined up for a parade.” — Marsha Walper

“This quilt, hanging in one of QU’s museum shows, was the first to blow me away with the superlative excellence in both the art and the craft of quilting that could be achieved. I remembered the impressive quilter’s name and met Marsha after I joined the guild. It turns out, the person was just as amazing as her work.”
— Sue Isaac