Kathryn Kuhlman remains one of the most prominent and polarizing figures in twentieth-century charismatic Christianity. While millions remember her massive healing crusades and television broadcasts, a major shadow hung over her early ministry. Her controversial marriage to a divorced evangelist nearly destroyed her calling before it reached global prominence.
Long before filling arenas in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, Kuhlman made a personal choice that triggered severe public backlash and decades of private remorse. Understanding this union requires looking past sanitized hagiography to examine the exact timeline, the controversies surrounding her husband, and how the fallout permanently reshaped her approach to ministry.
The Meeting That Sparked the Crisis
In 1935, a charismatic Texas evangelist named Burroughs A. Waltrip visited Denver, Colorado, where Kuhlman was preaching. Waltrip was eight years older than Kuhlman, strikingly handsome, and possessed an undeniable gift for public speaking. At the time of their encounter, Waltrip was already married with two sons and actively leading a ministry.
Shortly after visiting Denver, Waltrip left his wife and family, returning to Iowa to establish a revival center called Radio Chapel in Mason City. Kuhlman, alongside her close friend and pianist Helen Gulliford, traveled to Mason City to assist with fundraising for the new chapel. What began as a collaborative evangelistic effort quickly developed into a romantic attachment between Kuhlman and Waltrip.
Friends and supporters immediately voiced deep concerns. Many warned Kuhlman that entering a relationship with a man who had abandoned his family would ruin her credibility. Even Kuhlman herself privately admitted that she struggled to find divine peace regarding the connection. She ultimately convinced herself that Waltrip's first wife had initiated the estrangement, using this rationalization to justify moving forward with the romance.
The Secret Wedding and Immediate Regret
On October 18, 1938, Kuhlman and Waltrip were married in a quiet ceremony in Mason City, Iowa. The union was kept as quiet as possible to shield them from immediate public outcry, but the secrecy did nothing to quiet Kuhlman's conscience.
The reality of the situation crashed down on her almost instantly. On the very night of their wedding, after checking into their hotel, Kuhlman left. She drove to the hotel where her friend Helen Gulliford was staying, sat with her companions, and wept openly. She confessed that marrying Waltrip was a catastrophic mistake.
While they did not separate permanently that exact night, the marriage was fractured from its inception. They attempted to maintain a shared life and ministry in Iowa for several years, but the atmosphere was strained. The weight of public disapproval, combined with the ethical compromise of the union, paralyzed Kuhlman's ability to preach freely.
Separation, Divorce, and Professional Isolation
By 1944, the domestic arrangement collapsed completely. Kuhlman left Waltrip for good, walking away from the radio program and the center they had built together in Iowa. Years later, in a 1952 interview with the Denver Post, she recalled that Waltrip accurately stated she refused to live with him, noting that years had passed since they last spoke.
The legal dissolution of the marriage took years to finalize. Waltrip officially filed for divorce, which was granted in the late 1940s. During this interim period, Kuhlman experienced a grueling desert season. Doors to pulpits closed. Organizers refused to book an evangelist carrying the scandal of a broken marriage involving a separated man.
She faced a stark professional and spiritual crisis. She later described a profound moment of total surrender at an altar in Franklin, Pennsylvania, where she decided to give up every personal ambition and focus entirely on God. She concluded that she could either cling to her own desires or salvage her calling, choosing the latter by stepping away from romantic entanglements for the rest of her life.
Public Penitent and Lifelong Remorse
Unlike many public figures who attempt to hide past scandals or rewrite history, Kuhlman addressed her marriage directly in various settings, though she rarely mentioned Waltrip by name in later years. She openly acknowledged that her actions had brought reproach upon the Gospel and caused deep emotional pain to innocent parties.
She frequently cited the children of Waltrip's first marriage as the true victims of the situation, expressing deep sorrow over the heartbreak caused by the family's disruption. For Kuhlman, this chapter of her life became her greatest source of personal grief and a cautionary tale she referenced when mentoring younger ministers.
Her total withdrawal from romantic relationships following the split became a permanent fixture of her life. She poured every ounce of her remaining energy into her Kathryn Kuhlman Foundation, her Enid Okemah radio broadcasts, and grueling travel schedules, maintaining absolute singleness until her death in 1976.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Kathryn Kuhlman marry Burroughs Waltrip?
They were married in a quiet ceremony on October 18, 1938, in Mason City, Iowa.
Did Kathryn Kuhlman have any children?
No, she did not have any children from her marriage to Waltrip, nor did she have children later in life.
How long did they stay together?
While they married in 1938, Kuhlman left him on multiple occasions and they separated permanently around 1944, living together for roughly six years in total. Their formal divorce was finalized later in the decade.
Did the marriage end her ministry permanently?
It caused a temporary halt and severe professional isolation during the early 1940s, but Kuhlman eventually rebuilt her ministry in Franklin, Pennsylvania, and went on to become one of the most recognizable faith healing evangelists of the twentieth century.
