Kit Daryl Walling

Kit Daryl Walling, age 71, of Hayward, Wi, unexpectedly left us to go home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 21, 2026.  He was born on July 23, 1954, in Maracaibo, Venezuela, the son of Richard and Patricia (Craig) Walling. 

Born in Venezuela, Kit had the opportunity to live in Peru, Panama, the United States, Libya and Australia.  Like his father and brother before him, Kit attended high school at the Western Military Academy in Alton, IL. He later attended Baylor University, Rochester Institute of Technology Kodak School of Photography, and Regent University, studying film and communications.  Kit began his career working as a freelance photographer in the Washington D.C. area.  His work was featured in the Washington Post, New York Times Sunday Magazine, National Geographic and many other magazines and publications. 

Influenced by his childhood and career, Kit embraced life as a global citizen, finding beauty and connection in every corner of the world he explored. Kit was deeply interested in people and their stories, and he made friends wherever his travels took him. His endless curiosity and thirst for knowledge made him an avid reader, and he would eloquently share his wisdom on a wide range of topics: art, history, gardening (he could coax life back into even the most weary plants), architecture, film, food, music (particularly Van Morrison and the Beatles), among many others. A gifted storyteller with a remarkable memory and keen insight, he captured the essence of people, places, and moments with a photographer’s eye, a painter’s heart, an artists soul, and a filmmaker’s gift for weaving narrative. He was a Renaissance man.

Kit’s love of the arts was his true passion. He loved to write and was an accomplished photographer, shooting subjects ranging from Maya Angelou to Stone Cold Steve Austin.  What he loved most was painting. He studied the maestros and became a master painter himself. His life’s work is remarkable.
Kit was a man who loved God, his family, and his good friends.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow Kit all the days of his life: and He will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23:6

He is survived by his brother, Craig (Carroll) Walling of San Antonio, TX; his nieces and nephew, Brit (Aaron) Caddel of Charlotte, NC, Nicole (Billy) Brady of New York, NY, Morgan Walling of New York, NY and Andrew Walling of San Antonio, TX; his cousins, Christian Craig, David (Beverly) Craig both of Chicago, IL and Lisa Craig of Columbus, OH; his aunt, Holly Craig of Columbus, OH; his grand-niece and nephews, Max, Thames, Raphaella and Rogan; and his beloved soulmate, Teri Hickey of Ohio.

In addition to his parents, Kit is preceded in death by his uncle, Douglas Craig; his maternal grandparents, Dorothy and Albert Craig; and his paternal grandparents, Chet and Frances Walling. 

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
 

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