Rachel Larimer Mellon Walton (January 8, 1899March 2, 2006) was an American philanthropist, a member of one of the most prominent families in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the longest serving member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's board of directors.Pitz, Marylynne. "Obituary: Rachel Mellon Walton/Longtime volunteer and philanthropist." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 3, 2006 (cached version of obituary, retrieved online in 2007: )."Rachel Mellon Walton Fund." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Foundation, retrieved online December 4, 2022.Vondas, Jerry. "Woman leaves legacy of care." Tarentum, Pennsylvania: TribLive, March 4, 2006.
In 1998, she was named one of the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania."National recognition for PSU Trustee Emerita Wise." State College, Pennsylvania: Centre Daily Times, December 2, 1998, p. 5 (subscription required).
A centenarian at the time of her death in 2006, she reached the age of 107."Legendary ladies of longevity" (news brief with photo and caption). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 4, 1999, p. 20 (subscription required).
Formative years and family Born on January 8, 1899, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as Rachel Larimer Mellon,"Doings in Society." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, December 7, 1919, p. 78 (subscription required). Rachel Mellon was one of four children of William Larimer Mellon (1868–1949)"Wills Filed." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, October 14, 1949, p. 36 (subscriptio required)."W. L. Mellon, Last of Family's Generation, Dies in Pittsburgh." Baltimore, Maryland: The Baltimore Sun, October 9, 1949, p. 7 (subscription required). and Mary "May" (Taylor) Mellon. Her father, a founder of Gulf Oil, was a member of the prominent Mellon family.Pitz, "Obituary: Rachel Mellon Walton/Longtime volunteer and philanthropist," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 3, 2006.Vondas, "Woman leaves legacy of care," TribLive, March 4, 2006."W. L. Mellon, Oil Leader, Is Dead at 81." Fort Worth, Texas: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, October 9, 1949, p. 6 (subscription required).
Educated at the Dobbs Ferry School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, as her mother had been before her, Rachel Mellon was reared with her siblings, Margaret, Matthew T., and William Larimer Mellon Jr., in Pittsburgh's East End.Vondas, "Woman leaves legacy of care," TribLive, March 4, 2006. During the early 1900s, she and her parents and siblings traveled frequently to the Miami, Florida, area, where the family's yacht, the Vagabondia, was often anchored."Wm. L. Mellon, Financier, Dies." Miami, Florida: The Miami News, October 9, 1924, p. 26 (subscription required)."Palatial Are The Appointments Of New Vagabondia." Miami, Florida: The Miami News, December 15, 1916, p. 8 (subscription required).
Engaged to be married in November 1921,"Engagement Announcements And Debutante Receptions Important Events of Week." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Gazette Times, November 27, 1921, p. 46 (subscription required). Rachel Mellon wed John Fawcett Walton Jr. (1893–1974) on March 30, 1922."For Miss Mellon," in "Society News." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, March 28, 1922, p. 23 (subscription required)."Late March Date Set for Mellon-Walton Wedding." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Daily Post, February 11, 1922, p. 9 (subscription required). They raised four children together at their home in Pittsburgh's East End.Pitz, "Obituary: Rachel Mellon Walton/Longtime volunteer and philanthropist," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 3, 2006.Vondas, "Woman leaves legacy of care," TribLive, March 4, 2006.
During the fall of 1924, her family was in the news frequently as her father testified during United States Senate hearings about potential political corruption. Known at the time as the Borah Committee hearings, the sessions were held to investigate expenditures of more than $3,451,000 that had allegedly been made by the Republican Party to influence voter opinions regarding various issues being debated at the federal level.G.O.P Expenditures Exceed $3,451,000: Frank P. Walsh Calls Attention To Figures At Hearing Before Borah Committee, W. L. Mellon, Nephew of Secretary, Tells of Amounts Contributed in Pittsburgh District." Baltimore, Maryland: The Baltimore Sun, October 19, 1924, front page (subscription required).
When her grandfather, James Ross Mellon, died in 1934, Walton was given a $1,000 bequest by his estate."Mellon Will Gives Cash to Hospital: West Penn to Get $50,000 Sons Named Executors." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, October 24, 1934, p. 2 (subscription required).
On March 18, 1942, Walton's mother died in Miami, Florida. She and her siblings and other relatives were subsequently mentioned in multiple newspapers across the United States in death reports about their mother and in reports of the probate of their mother's estate. According to The Indianapolis Star, "After payment of various bequests, the remainder of the estate [was] placed in trust to be divided equally among Mrs. Mellon's grandchildren." The report went on to state that "Jewelry and personal effects were given to Mrs. Mellon's two daughters, Mrs. Rachel Mellon Walton and Mrs. Margaret Mellon Hitchcock.... A brother, Matthew Taylor of Westfield, N.Y., was given $30,000; a nephew, Roy Taylor, Brooklyn, $25,000; a niece, Mrs. Scott Sterns, Longmeadow, Mass., $40,000.""Mrs. W. L. Mellon Leaves Estate exceeding $500,000." Indianapolis, Indiana: The Indianapolis Star, March 27, 1942, p. 5 (subscription required).
On October 9, 1949, Walton's father died at his home in Pittsburgh."William L. Mellon, 81, Retired Chairman of Gulf Oil Corp., Dies." Washington, D.C.: Evening Star, October 9, 1949, p. 32 (subscription required)."W. L. Mellon, Oil Leader, Is Dead at 81," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, October 9, 1949."Obituary: William Larimer Mellon." Ligonier, Pennsylvania: The Ligonier Echo, October 14, 1949, p. 8 (subscription required)."Mellon" (death notice of William Larimer Mellon, Sr.). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, October 9, 1949, p. 46 (subscription required). She and her three siblings were mentioned, once again, in multiple newspapers across the United States, this time in death reports about their father and in reports of the probate of his multi-million-dollar estate, which was ultimately divided between Walton and her siblings."Mellon's Estate Goes To Four Children." Berwick, Pennsylvania: Berwick Enterprise, October 13, 1949, p. 15 (subscription required). In addition to ensuring that trust funds would be set up for each of his children in equal amounts after the payment of estate taxes, Mellon directed that $100,000 be given to Rachel Walton's husband, John, and also arranged for $75,000 to be distributed among staff who were employed personally by him at the time of his death."Children to Share Estate of Mellon." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 12, 1949, p. (subscription required)."W. L. Mellon Estate Left to Children: Four to Get Bulk of Big Fortune Not Estimated in Will." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 12, 1949, p. 15 (subscription required). By the time that her father's $23,186,736 estate was finally settled during the summer of 1954, Walton and her siblings were awarded just $246,317 each because the estate's final value had been reduced to $6,149,922 net, following the payment of taxes and estate administration costs."W. L. Mellon Estate Given Final Division: Almost Million Held In Trust For Four Children." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 7, 1954, p. 13 (subscription required).
Philanthropic efforts and legacy On December 23, 1970, Walton established the Rachel Mellon Walton Fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation. In 1971, she donated $64,750 to the fund."Foundation Gets $708,942." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 27, 1971, p. 6 (subscription required). Foundation officials presently estimate that "her giving will continue in perpetuity.""Rachel Mellon Walton Fund," The Pittsburgh Foundation. Organizations and projects supported by her fund include:
Carnegie Institute of Technology (Biophysical research laboratory of Jerome Wolken, PhD)"New Lab Operating at Tech." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, January 14, 1965, p. 38 (subscription required). Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Campaign for a Dynamic Downtown"Contributors to the Cultural Trust Campaign for a Dynamic Downtown," in "O'Reilly Theater." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 5, 1999, p. 95 (subscription required). Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation restoration of Pittsburgh's old North Side Post Office (1969)"Post Office Fund Grows On N. Side." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, July 1, 1969, p. 53 (subscription required)."Mellon Awards $250,000 Grant: Renovation Money for Post Office." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, September 30, 1969, p. 8 (subscription required). Pittsburgh Symphony Endowment Fund"Symphony Fund Nears $6 Million." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, June 3, 1965, p. 2 (subscription required).Rachel Mellon Walton Chair, Pittsburgh Symphony, in "Heard." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 19, 1998, p. 22 (subscription required).
In addition, as a major benefactor to the arts, education, medicine, music, nature conservation, and the welfare of women, Walton provided key financial support for the Albert Schweitzer Hospital, founded by her brother, Dr. William Larimer Mellon Jr., in Deschapelles, Haiti, as well as the Walton Hall of Ancient Egypt at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh,Lowry, Patricia. "The Carnegie plans extensive renovation." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, May 3, 1988, pp. B6-7 (subscription required).Lowry, Patricia. "Your Chance to Walk Like an Egyptian: Artifacts dusted off after 10 years as The Carnegie opens new hall." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, February 6, 1990, pp. B6, B8 (subscription required). the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business, and the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh."Cocktails with Mrs. Walton" (article with photo and caption)." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1999, p. 27 (subscription required). In the 1970s, Walton donated land to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for the Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve.
Named one of the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania in 1998, she and six other women were presented with medals and citations for distinguished service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge in a special ceremony held at the governor's residence in Harrisburg."National recognition for PSU Trustee Emerita Wise, Centre Daily Times, December 2, 1998.
Deaths and interments Walton was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Walton Jr., who died at home in Pittsburgh on November 14, 1974. His funeral service was held at the Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh."John F. Walton, Jr." (obituary). Ligonier, Pennsylvania: The Ligonier Echo, November 20, 1974, p. 16 (subscription required).
Rachel Mellon Walton, who survived her husband by more than three decades, continued to remain active with her philanthropic work even after becoming a centenarian. She died at the age of 107 in her Oakland, Pennsylvania home on March 2, 2006, and was interred at Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.Pitz, "Obituary: Rachel Mellon Walton/Longtime volunteer and philanthropist," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 3, 2006.Vondas, "Woman leaves legacy of care," TribLive, March 4, 2006.
Walton's eldest son, John F. Walton III, died on February 2, 2007, in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Walton moved West in 1950 and purchased a cattle ranch in Kirkland, Arizona, where he resided until 1974.