MIDDLEBURY —  Walter Richard “Dick” Calhoun died July 27, 2019, at Helen Porter Healthcare at the age of 92. He was born in Middlebury, the son Walter and Evelyn (Muldoon) Calhoun.
Walter attended Middlebury Public Schools, and 8th grade at St. Mary’s School, the first graduating class in 1940. After his first two years of high school in Middlebury Walter left Vermont to attend seminary college, first in Maryland and then in Ottawa, Canada. He returned to Vermont and did graduate studies in Classical Studies from the University of Vermont.
Walter served in the U.S. Army from 1950-1952, during the Korean War. He was sent to perform background checks on people who had filed under the Refugee Relief Act and were seeking admission to the United States. He was also sent to places such as Palermo, Sicily and Tehran, Iran. In 1958 Walter started working for the Vermont State government, first in Burlington and then as Manager in their Middlebury office.
Later in life Walter continued his education taking special courses at Temple University and the University of Colorado at Boulder. A connoisseur of wines, Walter was a diplomat of the American Wine Institute and French Wine Institute. He was also a member of the Society Wine Educators. Walter was involved with the American Legion for more than 37 years, and very active in the church.
Walter is survived by his nephew Michael Calhoun, and husband Matthew of West Palm Beach, Fla., his niece Susan DeForge, and husband Frank of York, Maine, and grandnephew and grandniece Brad and Kristen DeForge. He is also survived by his other family Susan and Michael Herring, of Vergennes and Faye and CJ Hebert,  of Vergennes, Elisabeth Holm, of Middlebury, Dr. William Eichner and Julia Alvarez, of Middlebury.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the employees of Addison County Home Health and Hospice, especially Sarah Frisch, who’s work was absolutely amazing, as well as dear friend Michael Hinsdale for all his help and company during his last years. Dick’s support system was too vast to name everyone. But, a heartfelt thanks is extended to each and every one of you.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Aug. 3, at 10 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church of the Assumption, 326 College St., Middlebury VT, with the Rev. Luke Austin as the celebrant. Burial will follow in Middlebury Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Homeward Bound, Addison County’s Humane Society, 236 Boardman St. Middlebury or Addison County Home Health & Hospice, 254 Ethan Allen Hwy., New Haven.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home. Online condolences at sandersonfuneralservice.com.◊