She said the cause of death … Walter Cronkite together with his wife prior to her departure from 2005 Cronkite diedon July 17, 2009, in age 92. Walter passed away on July 17, 2009 at the age of 92 in New York City, New York, USA. Walter Cronkite Death. ET Friday at his Manhattan home surrounded by family. Walter's cause of death was cerebral vascular disease. The "most trusted man in America" is gone. Walter Cronkite, who personified television journalism for more than a generation as anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News," has died. The reported reason of the passing wascerebrovascular disorder – a health state thataffects blood supply to the brain. Cronkite's longtime chief of staff, Marlene Adler, said Cronkite died at 7:42 p.m.