Elaine Walters September 12, 1956 – June 27, 2026

Elaine Walters, 69, of Zephyrhills, passed away peacefully June 27, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. While her passing has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of those who loved her, the legacy she leaves behind is one that will continue for generations.

Born Sept. 12, 1956, in Haskell, New Jersey, Elaine was the daughter of the late James Engels and Beverly (Campbell) Engels. She graduated from Lakeland Regional High School in Wanaque, New Jersey, and as a young woman proudly performed with the Stardusters Drum and Bugle Corps as a member of the color guard, where she formed memories she treasured throughout her life.

Elaine chose to serve her community while living in Pennsylvania when she became an Emergency Medical Technician and became a member of Lansford Volunteer Ambulance Corps where she rose to the rank of Assistant Chief.

Elaine was preceded in death by her beloved sister, Patti Engelbrecht. She is survived by her husband Dave Walters of Zephyrhills, her sister, Beverly (Engels) Cartright and brother-in-law James Cartright of Myrtle Beach, sister Lyn Skinner of Valrico; her brother, James Engels of Haskell; and dozens of loving cousins, nieces, and nephews who will forever cherish her kindness and generous spirit.

But if you were to ask Elaine what her greatest accomplishment in life was, she would never have pointed to herself. She would have pointed to her family.

Her greatest joy and proudest achievement were the four children she loved beyond measure: Jennifer Staub, Lisa Summers, David Summers, and Matthew Engels. They were the center of her world, and through them, her love multiplied into a beautiful family legacy.

That legacy continues through her eleven cherished grandchildren: Caitlin Haller, Breanna Summers, Samantha McCormick, Kylee Osgood, Nick McCormick, Braden Osgood, Mia Summers, Kira Summers, Sophie Engels, Connor Engels, and Hayden Engels. It has already extended to another generation through her great-granddaughter, Hailey Hammersley, with another great-grandchild expected soon.

If Elaine was an artist, her family was her life's masterpiece. She didn’t teach them through long speeches, but through everyday acts of unconditional love, strength and unwavering support. She believed family always came first. Those values live on in every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild whose lives she helped shape.

To know Elaine was to know someone who was the steady voice during difficult times, the comforting hug when life became overwhelming, and the person who quietly made sure everyone else was cared for before herself. Her love created a home wherever her family gathered, and her influence will continue to be felt around dinner tables, at birthday celebrations, holiday traditions, and in countless everyday moments for years to come.

Though cancer took her far too soon, it could never diminish the incredible impact of the life she lived. Her greatest gift was not measured in years, but in the people she loved and who loved her in return. She leaves behind a family forever bound together by the values she instilled and the example she set.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 1, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Hodges Family Funeral Home, 36327 County Road 54, Zephyrhills.

In the years ahead, Elaine's family will undoubtedly miss her smile, her wisdom, and her presence. Yet they take comfort in knowing that her love did not end with her passing. It lives on in every generation that follows as a lasting reminder that a life devoted to family is a life that never truly ends.