In Memoriam
Kyle Walcott joined Midway RV Center in 2004 at 15 years old, tasked with cleaning up shop and detailing RVs. It didn’t take long for the dealership to see that Kyle was very good at his job, says Sales Manager Dave Ballast. He was naturally a good mechanic, too, making minor repairs to the rigs he detailed.
“It also didn’t take long to notice his outgoing personality,” Dave says. “He quickly caught on to all things of the RV world and had aspirations of moving some day to the sales staff.”
Once out of high school, Kyle took business classes at a local university while selling for Midway part-time and taking on a management role.
“Who better to manage the detail team than someone who was as fussy as Kyle?” Dave says. “His cars were always spotless, as well.”
During that time, Midway hired another “just as fussy” detailer named Colleen — a perfect match for Kyle, Dave says. The two married shortly after Colleen left for nursing school and eventually they had two children — a daughter and a son.
Kyle continued to learn more about the RV business, specializing in travel trailers and fifth wheels for a few years before joining Midway’s motorhome sales team. Within a short time, he was consistently a top Newmar salesman.
“Having worked through different areas at Midway, Kyle was a friend to all of us. We all loved who he was and what he brought to our dealership and our customers,” Dave says.
Kyle’s battle with cancer started after Thanksgiving of 2022. A scan revealed a tumor near his brain and spinal column, prompting immediate surgery that exposed a rare form of cancer and left Kyle with impaired vision. Over the beginning of 2023, he endured aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatment. By late April, he was able to return to work with some physical limitations.
“He never complained. He still cared for his customers and was still the personality of our showroom — he simply did it typing with one hand and using a walker,” Dave says. “His smile remained, and his strong faith was a testimony to many.”
Over the next year, Kyle received chemo treatments every six to eight weeks. Side effects would take him out of the office for nearly a week, but then he would return smiling and happy to be at work, Dave says. His doctors seemed content with his progress throughout 2023.
It was early 2024 when Kyle started to experience less mobility and balance, among other prediagnosis symptoms. By March, Dave says his team’s fears were realized. The chemotherapy hadn’t stopped Kyle’s cancer from returning, and over the next few months, his body had used its remaining strength.
“But through it all, Kyle continued to be Kyle. Rarely complaining and usually smiling,” Dave says.
Kyle Gordon Walcott passed away on June 27, 2024, at 35 years old. He was a devoted husband and father, his obituary says, with a love for his family that was evident in every aspect of life. He was an active member of Providence CRC, where he was a leader and singer, and enjoyed being outside in God’s creation — especially camping, hunting and snowmobiling.
Kyle is survived by his loving wife, Colleen, and two children, daughter Nora (who just turned 5) and son Cade (2.5 years old).