Robert Henderson Walston

Robert “Bob” Henderson Walston died Saturday September 5th at age 79. He was born on November 12, 1935 in Birmingham, and was a 1953 graduate of Phillips High School. He attended Emory University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in history in 1957. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and served as President of Sigma Chi Fraternity at Emory. He went on to graduate from Harvard Law School in 1960. His law career in Birmingham spanned more than 35 years. His practice was in tax free municipal bonds, which helped many small towns all over the state build hospitals, airports, and other critical projects. During his career, he worked at the law firms of Bradley Arant, Rose & White, Dumas O'Neal and Hayes, and Cabaniss Johnston, Gardner, Dumas, O’Neal and Hayes. In 1991, he and others founded Walston, Stabler, Wells, Anderson & Bains. He retired from practice in 1998. After growing up in McCoy Methodist Church, Bob was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood, Alabama, and regularly taught the New Testament in the Companionship class. Later in life, he became a member of Liberty Church.He is survived by Martha Akin Walston, his high school sweetheart and wife of 58 years who was born on the same day and in the same hospital as Bob; his son Richard Walston and grandsons Robert H. Walston II and David C. Walston; daughter Elizabeth Walston Myers, son-in-law Rich Myers and grandchildren Caroline Myers and Christopher Myers; son David B. Walston, daughter-in-law Jeannie Bugg Walston and grandchildren Banks Walston and Lauren Walston; son Allen Walston, daughter-in-law Eva Walston and grandchildren Anna Walston and David A. Walston; and sister Kathryn Walston Smith and brother-in-law Lester Smith; and was predeceased by sister Jean Roe Walston. A family funeral will be held at Elmwood Cemetery on Wednesday September 9. Memorials in honor of Bob can be given to Adopt-A-Child (4901-A Forest Creek Drive, Pace, FL 32571) or Liberty Church (2732 Old Rocky Ridge Road, Birmingham, AL 35216).