Walter graduated from Nyack College in 1964 with a degree in Philosophy and Anthropology. In 1968, he completed his M.Div. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Walter has had pastorates in North Dakota, Colorado and Minnesota. His last pastorate was a 9 year pastorate in Rochester, MN. He left that pastorate in 1987 to accept the call to the SE District of the Evangelical Free Church of America as its superintendent.

Walter has been married 35 years to his wife Pat. Pat works for Barnett Bank in their trust department, managing real estate. Walter and Pat have two grown daughters. Deborah works for Disney. Laura is an accountant with a land development company in Orlando and is married to Larry Zirbel of Software Techniques.