Walter Vient
April 25, 1939 ~ May 20, 2023
Walter G. Vient was born on April 25, 1939, in the Boston suburb of Quincy, Massachusetts and went to meet his Lord on May 20, 2023. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Carolyn Sue Lon Vient, his two children and their spouses, Romney & Paul Short, Brandon & Julie Vient, and his 4 grandchildren, Daniel Short, Adam Short, Avery Vient, and Isla Vient, to which he was affectionately known as “Poppa.”
Walt grew up the youngest of 2 boys in a family of 13 children. Throughout the years, he maintained contact with his large family, making an intentional effort to keep up with their lives and visit them at annual family reunions. He retained parts of his Bostonian accent which occasionally slipped out; he especially liked to joke about “pahking the cah.”
He attended college at Northeastern University, on a hockey scholarship, where he received a degree in Electrical Engineering. His enthusiasm for the sport of hockey never waned. He taught his children how to skate when they were young, he and his son scheduled their lives around being able to watch Washington Capitals games together, and he took his grandchildren to watch the Capitals practice in person.
Following college, Walt entered the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis, but it was WWII that held Walt’s military fascination more. He would deep dive into WWII movies, books, and museum exhibits. In fact, he never stumbled upon a museum sign he didn’t want to read in full, much to the chagrin of his impatient children. After completing his military service, he began working in marketing for the defense industry. With his legendary gift for gab, he enjoyed a long and successful career.
While stationed in Hawaii, he met and fell in love with his Mon Cherie, the love of his life, Sue. She was his most cherished friend and partner in life. Not long after getting married, his children Romney and Brandon were born. When they were young, he made up bedtime stories that were so compelling, they would beg him to continue. His talent for spinning a fantastical tale instilled a lifetime love of reading and writing in his daughter. Walt also started learning guitar and from that moment on the house was filled with music. He joined friends to form a music group, the Guitar Guys, that spent hours jamming together. He had a particular fondness for folk songs, old county hymns, and blue grass. His playing led to his son discovering his own passion for the guitar as well, and the two led family sing-alongs on holidays.
While the family has mostly lived in Virginia, they briefly lived in Michigan for a few years. Just before moving back, Walt came to the Lord, an encounter which dramatically changed his life. He attended a local church where his faith blossomed. Walt could often be seen reading his Bible and praying in the beautiful garden he created in his backyard. He was passionate about sharing the Gospel with others. No one was ever a stranger to Walt; everyone new was someone to share his story with. For many years he served as Missions Chairman, hosting international missionaries in his home. Later he faithfully served other outreach-focused ministries, like Evangelism Explosion. Throughout his Christian walk, he attended and led many Bible studies, his last group being one that has stuck together for many years, the participants as dear to him as his own family.
Walt joined his Lord just before the whole family was to return to Ocean City, Maryland, where they have vacationed together for over 40 years. Many of the family’s most treasured memories are from their adventures at the beach: building sand sculptures, competing in putt-putt, playing card games, eating ice cream, and strolling the boardwalk. His presence will be missed but not forgotten. He delighted in walking the long stretch of shore, which always reminded him of the poem, “Footprints in the Sand.”
One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you,
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”
The Lord carried Walt home on May 20, 2023, and we know he was welcomed with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Q: What will you never forget about Walter?
A: My Name is Vince Varriale. Walt led me through my first Evangelism Explosion training in 2010. He prayed for me and supported my mission since 2014. He was always there when I needed him. He was and is a man of God that has changed my life. His reward in our Lord Jesus’s Kingdom is something I am looking forward to seeing. He truly laid up his treasures in heaven. Walt will be in my heart and in my prayers until I meet him in the wedding feast of the Lamb of God “Jesus”. So, looking forward to that day. By God’s grace I will continue to train churches and raise up laborers for our Lord’s harvest because of the effect Walt has had in my life. Walt and Sue have changed my life and by God’s grace I will continue to change lives because of them. Hugs in Jesus until we meet again. Vince
This is my Mom, Kathy with her big brother Walt on a visit he and Sue made to her home in Tompkins Cove, NY. My mom always made sure one of us would attend the yearly family reunion in CT. I’m happy for those memories and grateful that Walt and Sue could make the trip for many years. My mom along with brothers and sisters that have gone will be happy and dancing in heaven with Walt leading in song.
A Tribute to Walt: A Faithful Friend
My name is Saul Carpio. I have known Walt thru our men’s fellowship over the past 17 years. He was my prayer partner, my mentor, and faithful friend. We worshipped, prayed, shared the gospel, and walked together; we shared life’s joys and burdens, encouraged one another in the Lord, and at one point were tennis partners.
A little over 4 years ago we gathered here in Walt’s backyard to celebrate his 80th birthday. Today we come together once again; this time to celebrate the life and legacy of our dear friend. We come with heavy hearts because we miss him. But we also come with joy, thanksgiving, and hope!
• We are joyful because Walt is now more alive than ever, basking in the presence of Christ our Lord, which is far better than the best days this world could ever offer. In this we rejoice.
• We come with thanksgiving to the Lord because Walt’s example taught us to love one another: his prayers and affirming words lifted our spirit, his kindness met the need of the moment, he gave freely of his time, and his affection and child-like spirit warmed our souls—In sum his character and his actions inspired and encouraged us to be like Christ. For that we are thankful.
• And we come with hope. With hope because the end of this life is not the end. There is life after life for those like Walt who believe in Christ. In John 11:25, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”
• So, we take great comfort in knowing that our separation from Walt is but temporary. One day our joy, our thanksgiving and our hope will culminate in a heavenly reunion. Walt will be at the portals of heaven eager to escort us to the throne of Christ.
If Walt were looking down from heaven at this moment, what might he be saying to us? He might be saying what he said at his 80th birthday “This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” And also, I think he would have a message and a prayer of encouragement for all of us.
If you are not a Christian, he would want you to know he is very much alive in heaven right now because of one reason: He was saved by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ –not by any merit or work of his own—it was the gift of God. And as he did so often, he would call you to repent from your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ – so that you may be forgiven, saved from hell and be given the gift of eternal life.
And if you are a Christian, Walt would pray for your spiritual growth from Ephesians 1:17-21 as he did in our men’s group for so many years:
We pray “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him…. that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
Thank you, Walt, for showing us and encouraging us to be like Christ. Meet us at the pearly gates!
Saul Carpio and Family 6/4/2023