In Memoriam: Rev. Edwin Walhout

Edwin Walhout lived his entire life in service to his Lord. He spent the last day of his earthly life doing many of the things he loved. His final act was preaching a New Year’s Eve sermon based on Psalm 90 at his home church, Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Walhout fainted shortly after beginning his sermon but later continued. When he fainted again, he was taken to hospital. He was able to walk out of the sanctuary and turned to wave goodbye to the congregation as he left and they silently waved back. About 15 minutes after reaching the emergency room, Walhout had a ruptured aortic aneurysm. Surgery was unsuccessful and Walhout died on January 1. He was 90 years old.

After graduating from Calvin College and Seminary, Walhout spent nine years teaching Bible in Christian schools. He served the following congregations: Holland (Minn.) CRC; Webster (N.Y.) CRC; and Framingham (Mass.) CRC. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree at Andover Newton Seminary. Walhout later worked as the adult education editor for the Christian Reformed Church. He retired in 1989. The final years of Walhout’s life were spent doing research and writing more than two dozen theology books.

Walhout was a charter member of the Calvin Academy for Lifelong Learning (CALL) at Calvin College, in which classes are offered for retirees. He was a member of the Western Michigan Theological Society. Apart from his theological pursuits, Walhout enjoyed bicycling or walking with his extended family on Saturday mornings followed by breakfast.

He is survived by his loving wife of almost 70 years, Alma; their children Nancy and Paul, Mary and David, Ruth, James and Cheryl, Elizabeth and Robert; and by 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.