I was so sorry when I got the Muhlenberg magazine and saw that Robert had passed. I remember him well from our years at 'Berg - I was also class of '72 and a physics major.

Robert was always a kind person and had a great sense of humor. I remember him in the electrical labs we had. He was quite brilliant, probably the most brilliant in our class, but he did have a problem with ammeters. When we would get the smell of rubber heated, we knew. Robert blew another ammeter. He always took it with a sense of humor.

But, in spite of ammeters not liking him, everyone else did.

I'm sorry I never got to see him again but I did think of him often.

My sympathy to his family. He was quite a great person.

Mr. Walton might be the only teacher in America who assigned an Umberto Eco novel to high school juniors. I’m not even sure they hit you with that sort of thing at glamorous New England prep schools. Certainly if they do, it isn’t because they trust you with it. It isn’t because they think you have the mind to interact with the material. It’s about a brand, about an image. Well, Mr. Walton didn’t give a lick about a brand or an image. He could’ve been teaching at Princeton. This is not flattery. The guy was a polymath. Ask him about anything from ornithology to integrals and he had an answer. And if he didn’t, he’d tell you he didn’t know. And if you got an I don’t know from Mr. Walton, you endured a day of existential tremors because you’d just stumped your intellectual Rock of Gibraltar. But that was all in your head. He didn’t make you feel that way. He wasn’t afraid to say I don’t know. There just wasn’t much a high school kid could think to ask him that he didn’t know. He was a generous thinker. He demanded thought. But he wasn’t pushy. He was just the sort of guy who cared so much about ideas it made you want to care about ideas too. And more than ideas, he cared about living well. And living well for him meant welcoming students he’d just had for English literature back into his classroom during his lunch break (they better put that flour sack in a museum!) to tutor them in Physics. Like I said, he could’ve taught at Princeton. But for him, if he’d gone on to somewhere like that he’d have felt like a sellout. He was a generalist. A PhD would’ve driven him mad. (Imagine having to study the same darn thing to the exclusion of all else for seven straight years). He stayed home and cared about his community. He was a faithful man. He’s unsung in the truest sense of the term. You show up to class all confused over church counsels one damp drizzly day in November and he’d cheer you up with ‘Casey at the Bat.’ Or make you cry (the good kind of tears) with his rendition of Poe’s ‘Bells.’ I’ll never forget ‘Bells.’ I still feel their chimes shimmying my skin. And I hope there’s a recording of his ‘Cremation of Sam McGee.’ He was a sucker for a good fictional romance. He got this mischievous glint in his eye over literary love. I think he liked the dirty jokes in Shakespeare almost as much as the plots. He didn’t prefer music. That one always confused me, but it was so anomalous it made me all the more interested in anything he had to say. I don’t mean to make this sound all sentimental. I rebel against the temptation to beatify as soon as death comes calling. Sure, we disagreed at times. I’m not sure there’s a principle he taught us in his ethics class that I currently live by. For one thing, at any given moment I’m liable to rattle off a whole slew of circumlocutions (or worse) that’d make his cheeks bloom with righteous fury. But he sure would’ve talked to me about it. And more than talked, he would’ve listened. He had an ear for any considered idea. And he had a rebuke for any unconsidered one. Not because it might not be legitimate. But because you hadn’t done your due diligence yet and worked out the kinks. Ideas are relationships. They don’t thrive without sweat. I don’t know how many times I wrote essays for him that when they came back were riddled with red circles and the comment Word Choice—I once described a John Everett Millais painting as racy. He must’ve gotten a secret kick out of that. But he didn’t embarrass me. He wanted us to experiment with language and ideas. That was his way of showing love, giving his students a space to think. That space has enveloped me for all my life thus far. I am grateful to have known him.

Thank you Mr. Walton I preach the word of God because you took the time to Teach Me the Word of God !!.. I’ll Always appreciate and be grateful for what you imparted to me

I remember Robert from my junior high school days back in the mid 60's in Blue Bell, PA.. As a young school boy back in the day, I addressed him as Bobby. Around school, he was very well known for his intellect. I even remember speaking to my Dad about this really smart boy at my school by the name of Bobby Walton. My very first memory after all these years was remembering we had met at his church one Sunday. Now after all these years, I read he was a gifted pastor. What a remarkable and truly gifted man I was privileged to know and remember after so many years. My deepest condolences to the family. Steve Gifford, Shady Grove Junior High School Class of 65.

His picture confirms why we called him "Smiley" at Wissahickon. Great guy.

I am so sorry to learn of Robert's passing. I am a retired HiQ Advisor from Garnet Valley, He was a wonderful coach and an inspiration to his team. He always had kind words for GVHS HiQ. May he rest in peace with our loving Lord.

Dearest Bob, brother we are saddened by your passing but also know that this is not your end. You are now in the presence of Our Loving High Priest who sympathizes with all our weaknesses...What a Savior!!! Our family has been gently shepherded by you both at FRBC & TCA over 20 years. As I read all the wonderful stories & testimonies I’m so encouraged by the love of our Savior & by your testimony of faith...Your countless sermons, sunday school lessons among many other responsibilities are an ongoing

gift to all at FRBC. We are forever grateful for your loving service unto the Lord and us.

Revelation 3:10–12 (ESV): 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God

Mr. Walton helped Mrs. Kania with Drama at The Christian Academy. I was a teenager; but I was very detail oriented about studying all of the parts of all of the plays so that I could audition for any part. On the morning of one of the auditions that was scheduled after school, I woke up with fever and chills. I was so upset that I would miss the audition. I called the school office and spoke to Mrs. Sutherland. She said, "I think I know what to do." She found Mr. Walton. The phone rings at about 12:00; and poor Mr. Walton heard me sobbing about getting sick on the morning of the audition. Sobbing. He said, "Sherri, a responsible person has to call if you can't show up. As you grow and become an adult, always make sure you have extra change so you can get to a pay phone and call to say that you are late or got a flat tire; or you can't show up. I appreciate it that you called the office to say that you can't show up. That is very good. Remember that. You get better and we will talk." I think I was sick for almost a week. I got back to school; and Mr. Walton and Mrs. Kania had a second audition where five of us did a "make up" reading of the play. It turns out that there was illness going around the school. I got the part after the make up audution. Mr. Walton was right about carrying change for a pay phone as I got flat tires (no cell phones in 1986). But he taught me two lessons. I am 52 years old; and I still call or text if I am going to be late (or I can't show up). But more important, as I have contact with other humans, I have compassion for people who change plans. I let them "make up" a rescheduled appointment or a job interview. I show mercy to them because Mr. Walton taught me by his example. Mr. Walton, you touched so many lives. Thank you for giving to the Lord. Sherri Thomas TCA Class of '86

I was deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Mr. Walton. I am extremely grateful to have had a teacher with such a strong Biblical worldview. He challenged me to truly understand and solidify my own beliefs as well as learn about the beliefs and views of others. I also enjoyed participating in a few of the school plays and got to see a more animated side of Mr. Walton. He was a true servant of the Lord.

My deepest condolences to the Walton family. Although his presence is no longer here, the effects of his impact on those of us he taught will be long felt. He has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he has kept the faith. I rejoice in the fact that he is with his Savior and hearing the words, "Well done good and faithful servant. "

Condolences to the Walton family. You are all in my prayers. I am proud to say that I was Mr. Walton's student for years. His teachings prepared me for college, grad school, and life. It was a blessing to be his student. I am so glad his teachings are written down for future generations. Mr. Walton was an inspiration and will truly be missed. However, all of heaven is rejoicing.

I was so incredibly saddened to hear about Mr Walton's passing. He was an amazing teacher and I was so blessed to have him teach me Church History, Christian Perspective and Christian Ethics. He encouraged me in many ways and each subject that I took, with him, was thought provoking and compelling. I will be forever grateful to have had him as a teacher. I am sure that he was greeted with a huge celebration when he entered heaven, and heard "Well done good and faithful servant". He will be missed greatly. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Walton family during this time.

Saddened to hear about the passing of Mr. Walton. I was blessed to be his student at TCA, carrying many lessons into my adult life. So appreciative he freely shared his knowledge and pushed me to be my best. Keeping the whole Walton family in the Light during this difficult time.