Walter Cronkite Funeral
Walter Cronkite, America’s news reporter, died on July 17, 2009, at the age of 92.
Walter Cronkite had a private funeral service at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York.
He was then cremated and buried next to his late wife, Betsy, in Kansas City, Missouri.
A memorial will be held on September 9, 2009, at the Lincoln Center in New York.
People expected to speak at the Walter Cronkite memorial include:
President Barack Obama
Former President Bill Clinton
Andy Rooney
Bob Schieffer
Buzz Aldrin
Tom Brokaw
Katie Couric
If you would like to leave a remembrance, please leave a comment below.
Walter Cronkite was known as “the most trusted man in America.”
His apparent cause of death was cerebral vascular disease.
Walter Cronkite appeared on the CBS Evening News for two decades, until 1981.
Walter Cronkite was the first news reporter to be given the title ‘anchorman.’ In that role he won numerous awards, including the DePont Award, the Gold Medal of the International Radio and Television Society, the George Polk journalism award, and the William Allen White Award for Journalistic Merit.
For many Americans, Walter Cronkite is the person they associate with telling them about the death of President Kennedy, the lunar landing, and the Vietnam War.
“And that’s the way it is.”
Or, as Walter Cronkite stated on his final broadcast: “Old anchormen, you see, don’t fade away, they just keep coming back for more. And that’s the way it is.”
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One things that living to 92 is a good long life. And that is true most of the time. But somehow I never wanted Walter Cronkite to pass on. Not only was he the most brilliant, honorable, humane anchor, but he gave of himself wherever and whenever he could. When I contacted him two years ago to ask him if he would write a brief tribute for the Jane Froman Centennial for the renowned singer, he replied promptly and thoughtfully. Jane and Mr. Cronkite’s wife Betsy both went to the Journalism School in Columbia, MO. He was incredibly generous, and I am just one of the millions of people who have desparately missed him on the air and will miss him always. My sincere sympathy goes out to his family.
Mr. Cronkite represented what’s still missing since his forced retirement in ‘81 – A newsman who maintained a focus concerning the facts – Imagine if Mr. Cronkite was the Anchor during 9/11-
I believe he would’ve ask the Right Questions and allow the Citizens’ to process what was really going on rather than utilize subliminal messages…..framed by focus groups and facilitators-
Our Families tuned in during the ’50’s-’60’s and ’70’s right up to the Forced Retirement – I’am quite sure reagan was happy -
Just a thought -
Thank you Mr. Cronkite. Rest in peace.
I was a young man working for CBS News on a film crew when I met Mr. Cronkite. It was in 1968 at Dulles Airport. Our crew was to go with Mr. Cronkite to Vietnam. He and the producer had 1st. class tickets and we of course did not. NONE OF THAT he told the producer. They go where I go. He had the ticket person change all of our tickets to 1st. class. I flew around the world 1st.class just because he treated us as being a part of what he had to do. When we arrived in Vietnam I was a little apprehensive.He told me” son just do your job and all will be OK”. I remember one very hot day we were filming in the Chinese section called Ceylon. It had to be well over 100 degrees. As he was doing his peace for the special 200 yds.behind him there was an air strike. He Finished his peace with out a hitch and turned and narrated as piece for the evening news. I thought we would be killed. After that day I became fearless thanks to him.
Soon we found our way to HUE. We were the last convoy in for 5 days. What 5 days it was. Fighting all the time. Mr Cronkite was interviewing the commander as we walked down the street. Gun fire everywhere. he acted as if he was walking in downtown NY. We got back to Saigon and when it was time to go home he told us “Take a month to get back boys I will OK it with NY”. I stopped working for CBS and in 1972 went to work in the Kennedy Center in DC. In 1978 they started the Kennedy Center Honors. I had not seen Mr. Cronkite since he left us in Saigon.He was the master of ceremonies. When he saw me there without a blink he said Hi.Bill how have you been since I saw you last.Every year during the Honors we talked. I will never forget Mr. Cronkite till my dieing day. His kindness to a young and frightened kid in 1968 changed my life. I was a better person for meeting him. The world will be a little less today without him. Bill Lewis
There was absolutely no one I admired and trusted more than Walter Cronkite. A man of great insight, honesty and humility, he was the standard bearer for all journalists. Walter had a kindly and engaging way of speaking the truth without being abrasive or disrespectful. His was a life of knowledge and inspiration. And that’s the way it was!
One could always count on Mr. Cronkite to tell the news like it was eith good or bad and without a slant to futher his personal views or agenda. Today’s media would do well to follow Waleter’s example in deeds; not words and report the news as is and leave politics to
the politicians. For twenty years i observed him and nver knew his position on the issues until after his retirement.
“Uncle” Walter,
We were never related, but you always advised me
as a “grandfather” or as an “uncle”. It was an honor to
have known you. As you cried when JFK has passed, I
have not stopped crying since I leared of your death during
the FoxNews special on Apollo 11 (which mid-show was
dedicated to you). You helped make me the man that I am
today.
While I did not know you as closely as your family or
colleagues, it was an honor to call you friend.
I would have wished that you would have lived until
22:00 hours Eastern Daylight Time, on the 20th of July.
Which would have been the 40th anniversary of the Apollo
11 Landing (a “birthday present” from NASA to me, since two
days later was my first birthday).
You and your family are in my prayers. I am glad that you
have reunited with your beloved Betsy. I am glad that your
grandkids got to know such a wonderful grandfather, and that
your kids had you for so long.
It was your influence in my life that encouraged my faithful
completion of my education in Religion and Pastoral Counseling.
You really made my life complete in knowing you for all these
years, a good portion of my life. I will especially remember you
on my 41st birthday on Wednesday the 22nd of July.
God Bless you my dear friend and “Dutch Uncle”,
John
This made me so sad. What a class act this man was. I remember growing up and in our house…there was no noise allowed from 6:30 – 7. The only sound you heard was the sound of Walter Cronkite’s news reports. There are many children and grandchildren in our family and that is a fond memory we all have…..our father and grandfather basically stopping the house so he could watch Walter. Rest in Peace good man.
Walter Cronkite was someone that people had placed their trust in to receive the news the way it was and he never let them down. He was a credit to the news profession and will be sorely missed. However, I have many fond memories of listening to Walter Cronkite over many years. May God bless him and much appreciation to his family for sharing “Uncle Walter” with us.
I had the great fortune to work for Mr. Cronkite for a brief period several years ago. I will not forget his depth of character and humor, especially when Betsy was around. My best to his family, and to Julie and Marlene who were so patient with me.
When I heard that Walter Cronkite had passed away, many of my childhood memories came back to me. I remember his reporting of the day President Kennedy was killed, how my mother cried, how that scared me but, how important it was to know that Walter Cronkite was reporting to us the truth. The terrible truth. He reports about Vietnam and finally his coming out from behind the anchor desk to speak his mind and his heart, about the quagmire the U.S. was in, in Vietnam. he said we, the United States,could in the end, only do our best and then get out. The Apollo 11 moon landing, Apollo 13 near fatal mission, Watergate, The Nixon resignation, and hundreds of smaller stories that made us think and feel that what he was telling us, was the truth. His words were believed without question. If Walter Cronkite said it, if he reported it, you could count on it. You could take it to the bank. Thank you “Uncle Walter”.
I got to know the Cronkite family when I was still a very young kid. My grandmother was working for the family as a housekeeper at the time. I have been to their resident at E. 84th Street many times & few summers in Martha’s Vineyard with them. The memories are still very vivid in my head. At that time I didn’t know that he was the most trusted reporter or person in America. But I know he was the most popular & most watched by American when 6:00pm comes around. Thinking back now, I remember him to be an honorable person, a down to earth man. Even though he’s in a different class by him self, but he is always willing to help, as he did with us when my family felt into a situation. He has qualities that many of us lack of today. He will be missed but not forgotten. Here, my grandmother and the rest of the family wish to extent our deepest sympathies / condolences to the Cronkite family, our thoughts are with you.
Do not stand by my grave and weep
I am not there. I don not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am a diamond glint on snow
I am the sunlight on repened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awake in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the soft starshine at night
Do not stand by my grave and cry
I am not there… I did not die.
Walter Cronkite reflected in his evening news what has been best about America for the past century.
He was simple , straightforward, honest , courageous – ” An ordinary American doing extrodinary things”. In
his way , he paid tribute to the thousands of unsung Americans who have appreciated the freedom and opportunity of America enough keep it going.
May his tribe increase.
My deepest sympathy to all those, family, friends and “fans” who loved this great man! He was the last TRUE “Newsman,” a man who REPORTED the news AS IT WAS, without adding his own opinions, as do the ‘reporters’ of today. We have no News Reporters today, such as Edward R, Murrow, John Daily, or Cronkite. THEREFORE, we do not hear the NEWS anymore, just liberal or conservative views of it! May “Uncle Walter” rest in peace, although I cannot believe he was cremated!! Such a man deserved better than to be burned like the day’s trash!
I read a few weeks ago that Walter Cronkite was “gravely ill,” and I thought, “what a giant he is, and how diminished we will be by his absence…”
He has passed on, now, as we all will, and my heart broke as I watched the special CBS did for him, and for us. My fondest memories of watching him were during the moon landings, usually with Wally Schirra seated next to him.
I found an “In Remembrance” (a cartooon/drawing) on the Slate magazine website, with an Apollo astronaut saluting the flag, on which was Walter Cronkite’s likeness. How beautiful a sentiment. I cannot remember who said this, but I think it was a scientist: “If I have seen further than others, it is because I stood on the shoulders of giants.” Walter Cronkite was just such a man, a giant among men.
My eyes are tearing up now, so I had better go.
Thank you, Walter. I bid comfort and peace to the Cronkite family, for sharing him with us for so long.
Tom Martin
I am no one. Just a faceless member of the public. I saw Mr. Cronkite with his companion in the small crowd as we were all leaving a film screening at MOMA a few years ago. It was a moving experience just to be within arm’s reach of him, if only because I suddenly understood how directly, and how personally, he had been able to touch me and all of us out here in this anonymous mass of people. He was there for each of us at the turning points of our young lives. I was 15 when JFK was killed, and the memory his voice carried me through the harshness of that day.
My little brother, a 7-year-old kid with bottle neck glasses, was already obsessed with outer space, an obsession that was to last all his life (he went on to become a pilot). I will always remember the way he went jumping up and down and ran around the room in the childlike excitement that swept through our house when Mr. Cronkite took off his glasses, rubbed his hands together, and said “Whew! Oh boy!” He spoke directly to my kid brother with a kind of magic touch. He had the stuff of childlike dreams in his pocket. One of our family’s happiest memories.
Thank you for your life, Mr. Cronkite. You have been well loved. You will always remain safely here in our hearts, right here. I wish your family peace and the fine memories I am sure they can cherish.
Mr. Cronkite held our America in the palm of his hand so many times when our America was fragile and needed honesty but also gentleness. He was a unique combination of truth, good reporting style and great sense of humor. I felt honored that I was even in the same world with him. I miss him already so very much. I bless his children and hope they stay well and happy. They were lucky to have two wonderful parents.
Mr. Cronkite was my patient in 1997 after his heart surgery. He made such a great impression on me, not only for being a famous and loved person by all, but for the plain old wonderful warm man he was to me. I will never forget him and feel so lucky to have known him and his wonderful wife and daughters. My sympathy and prayers to his family. Sincerely, Susie
Hello everyone,
I would like to respectfully request that you all help me honor my “father”, Walter Cronkite, by visiting this link and reading my tribute article. It would mean slo much to me.
http://fromthegman.blogspot.com/2009/07/walter-cronkite-saved-my-life.html
Sincerely,
Gary “The G-Man” Toms
Journalist/Writer
Walter Cronkite was a wonderful news reporter and you could trust what he reported. America needs more people like him.
Walter Cronkite was and will always be a ledgend to the news media and the people who watched his news reports daily.
He will always be remembered on that very sad day that he tearfully reported the death of President kennedy.
To me this has also been that kind of a sad day, that I also shed tears when hearing of his passing.
He was a family man and true friend to everyone who new him, and watched him give us the news straight from his heart.
We will miss you Walter
Sincere sympathy to his family
Goodbye to one of the last of America’s “wise elders.” Thank you for your service, Walter. America is a better place having had you in it.
I feel as if I lost a very loved uncle. I remember in the 60s that Walter’s news broadcast was the only one we watched.
We will all miss that voice and that very comforting face we used to turn to when times were rough. There will never be another like him.
God Bless you, Walter.
what a dear soul. i will miss seeing wynje moored here and the sociable walter who was always so approachable.keep on sailing walter wherever you are .