Herald Curtis Walton

Herald Curtis Walton, at 95 wonderful years, moved on to his heavenly home on June 2, 2025. He was a beloved father, husband, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend of many. We celebrate his life and entrance into Heaven though he will be greatly missed.

Born December 23, 1929 in Garden City, Kansas to Paul and Martha Walton, Herald and his family essentially became Coloradoans early in his life, spending special times there even before they moved to Colorado Springs in 1938. Herald spent many formative years with his outdoorsy family enjoying year-round adventures on their Teller County Midland property hiking, sledding, fishing, or horseback riding on property near Pulpit Rock with his brother John. Herald was a ’47 graduate of Palmer High School, active in debate and music groups. He still regularly met monthly with his former classmates for lunch in Colorado Springs. An Eagle Boy Scout, Herald adventured in the Pikes Peak region and ascended several times, once with the AdAmAn Club to launch New Year’s Eve fireworks. A hardworking teen, he and his father painted and wall-papered houses together, and worked several summers in his uncles’ Kansas harvest fields.

Herald had an amazing positive and fun-loving outlook, and usually had a song to sing for every occasion. Often asked to sing a special in church, sing tenor in a quartet, or croon a baby to sleep, Herald loved to sing. Even at 95, the words or tune were immediately on his lips before you finished reciting the first line of “Do Your Ears Hang Low”, “Captain of HMS Pinafore”, “Wonderful Grace of Jesus”, or “Handel’s Messiah”. Because he was born at Christmas, Herald’s parents spelled his name like “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”. He was true to this assignment, singing for the Lord all his life, including as tenor in the choir on the Light and Life Hour radio program and in the Light and Life Quartet.

Along with his love of the outdoors, Herald was dedicated to God, and loved his family, friends, students and community. Herald devoted his life to Christ at an early age and carried this into all aspects of his life. Herald is also remembered for his “can do” problem solving attitude in any situation. Knowledge and Experience balanced with Biblical values were tools of the trade for him.

Herald attended Central Christian College in McPherson, Kansas 1947-1949, where he met and married his lifelong sweetheart of 74 years, Naomi Inman, in 1950. He received degrees from Seattle Pacific University (“51) in Physics and Mathematics. He earned Masters Degrees from Colorado College and Illinois State University. Herald supported these educational institutions and was a Central Christian College of Kansas Board Trustee for twenty-seven years.

Herald taught school at Alta Vista School near Calhan, CO and at Woodland Park High School ’51 - ‘56. He served in the Washington, D.C. area 1956-’61 as a mathematician in the Fire Control and Surveillance Program of the United States Navy at the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University. Additionally, he was a mathematics teacher for Montgomery Junior College. He realized his true calling as a professor and treasured the more personal hands-on aspects of empowering students. Herald joined the Greenville College faculty in the Physics and Mathematics Departments in Greenville, IL. During this 20 years’ time the mathematics discipline progressed in scope from problem solving with a slide rule, invention of electronic calculators, punch cards for room-sized computers, to teaching computer science. Herald and Naomi raised their five children in Greenville and participated in the Free Methodist Church community. Throughout his career, he was known for his contagious good humor and his engaging warm heartedness as well as dedication to his students.

Herald returned to Colorado as consultant for EDS. He and Naomi opened Waltons Mountain Lodge in Manitou Springs in 1998. and continued the tradition of welcoming any and all to meet on the mountain for holidays, fireworks, horse riding, and vacations. Never without a project, Herald built houses, constructed a glamping site, and sponsored a zipline. He and Naomi also toured several countries and 48 States.

Herald had a strong, steadfast love for his family and fostered close personal relationships with his kids, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and their spouses. He took loving interest in their endeavors and cares. It was natural for him and Naomi to invite them to enjoy the worlds of nature, science, and mechanics. Many a hike or fishing trip, skiing, rock hunting, star gazing, bird watching or tunnel exploration were interspersed with camping or cooking over an open fire. Herald also was a careful advisor and guide in personal and spiritual matters, leading by example and thoughtful encouragement. He and Naomi shared a wonderful life together and celebrated almost 74 years of marriage 1950 to 2024.

Herald is survived by their five children, Lawrence (Pat) Walton, Karen (Dick) Flowers, Carol (Steve) Cameron, David (Teri) Walton of Woodland Park, Richard Walton of Manitou Springs, and his fifteen grandchildren, Ben (Jen), Nate (Melanie), Jennifer (Tom), Matthew (Evelynn), Greg (Kelsey), Stephanie (Mark), Michelle (Eric), Caitlin (Josh), Denny (Lili), Justin (Karin), Scott (Holly), Jacob, Hanna, Emma, Olivia, and twenty-five wonderful great-grandchildren and two on the way, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Naomi, his parents Paul and Martha, his brother John, and his great grandson Wesley Paul. In many ways Herald was one of a kind yet an inspiration to all who knew him. His influence on all our lives will never end.

Memorial Service is Monday June 30, 2025, 11:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs. In remembrance, Herald requested any memorials be made to Central Christian College of Kansas, or to First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs Youth Ministries.