GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Former Cornerstone University President Walter Wilbert Welch died Thursday, July 16, and is being remembered and celebrated by the university for his leadership, impactful life and legacy of faithfulness as a disciple of Christ.
Welch, 97, served as president from 1959 to 1983, assuming the role of chancellor in retirement.
"Dr. Welch has left an indelible legacy in the contribution that he has made to the success we are enjoying today," said Cornerstone University President Joe Stowell.
"He had the vision to relocate us to the expansive, highly visible and easily accessible campus that we now enjoy, he gave persevering leadership to our community through challenging times of change during his twenty five years of active service to the university, expanded the facilities and was an untiring champion of strong academics and the spiritual development of our students."
Cornerstone, located at 1001 E. Beltline Ave. NE, has approximately 3,000 students enrolled in its programs now. At the time of Welch's leadership, the school was known as Grand Rapids Baptist College.
Stowell said Welch's greatest legacy is stamped in the lives of their students who were deeply influenced by his "steady, magnetic character and his love for Christ." Quoting a faculty member, he said, "Dr. Welch was a carpe diem servant leader, not a hearer only but a doer of the Word whose desire was to serve the Lord as his ultimate life goal."
Welch was ordained to the ministry in 1942, the same year he married his late wife, Meryl. A clock tower on the university's campus bears their names.
Welch will be remembered by the university during a memorial service at Christ Chapel on Monday, August 31, at 10 a.m.
Welch's family has not yet announced funeral arrangements.
Monica Scott is the Grand Rapids K-12 education writer. Email her at mscott2@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter @MScottGR or Facebook