Dr. Wilber B. Wallis, 95, who had been in declining health for several years, died peacefully in St. Louis, Missouri on Wednesday, August 20, 2008. He was one of the founding fathers of Covenant Seminary and a great man of faith.

 
Dr. Bryan Chapell, president of Covenant Seminary wrote: "The entire Seminary community grieves with Dr. Wallis’s family and friends at the loss of this faithful servant of God, yet we rejoice as well that he is now face to face with the Savior whom he loved so much.
 
"Dr. Wallis was a wonderful example of how God’s grace flows through his servants to bless and build up his people. When he became a founding member of the Covenant Seminary faculty in 1956, he had already had a full and illustrious career as a pastor, scholar, and administrator. He pastored the West Philadelphia Bible Presbyterian Church from 1941 to 1942, before serving four years in the United States Army (1942-46). After his military service, Dr. Wallis spent nine years as chairman of SheltonCollege (1947-56), then located in Cape May, New Jersey, following which time he came to St. Louis to help get the fledgling Covenant Seminary off the ground. Specializing in eschatology (the study of "last things"), Dr. Wallis taught in the Seminary’s New Testament department until his retirement in 1982, when he was granted emeritus status.
 
"Because of his extensive knowledge of the Bible, Dr. Wallis was often asked by friends and colleagues to identify certain passages of Scripture without being given the exact citations; very seldom was he stumped. A man of deep prayer, Dr. Wallis was also known for his comprehensive knowledge of the Greek language and his insight into the unity of the Old and New Testaments. His personal commitment to students over the years made him a favorite source of thoughtful, practical wisdom, as well as a revered figure in Covenant Seminary’s history.
 
"Dr. Wallis also used his considerable teaching gifts to benefit students at various overseas schools where he taught and lectured throughout his long career. In addition, he served as a translator of the book of Acts for the New International Version of the Bible, and was a contributor to the five-volume Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible and the NIV Study Bible.
 
"Along with his wife, Marie (who preceded him in death by several years), Dr. Wallis co-authored the book Troop School for Christian Soldiers, a manual for instructing children in the Christian faith.
 
"In addition to being a respected scholar and teacher, Dr. Wallis was also a dedicated churchman. His life reflected in many ways his core belief of service to God and to his people. He served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society and was active on the board of the American Institute of Holy Land Studies and on the Credentials and Examinations Committee of his Presbytery.
 
"As a former student of Dr. Wallis, I know firsthand how powerfully the Lord used this man for the sake of his Kingdom. He was well known for his rare combination of wisdom, gentleness, fairness, sympathy, and spiritual discernment. His love of God’s Word and his passion for prayer made him a tender teacher whose influence on the many pastors and ministry leaders he helped to train was profound.
 
"Dr. Wallis is survived by his children, Wilber B. Wallis Jr., Judith Wallis Alexander, Grace Wallis Marsh, Ruth Wallis Herndon, Deborah Wallis Binnie, 13 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.
 
"On behalf of everyone at Covenant Seminary, I extend deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of this remarkable man. Though he will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him, we celebrate his life of faithful service and look forward to the day when we will be reunited with him in glory."
 
Funeral Arrangements for Dr. Wallis
A memorial service for Dr. Wallis will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, at The Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2143 North Ballas Road, St. Louis, MO63131.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Wilber B. and Marie C. Wallis Scholarship Award Fund at Covenant Theological Seminary, 12330 Conway Road, St. Louis, MO63141.