Wall, Richard G. (1950-2005)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2005 Mar 31 p. 2

Birth date: 1950 Feb 21

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Apr 4 p. 16

text of obituary:

Longtime biology professor dies

HILLSBORO, Kan. — Richard Wall, 55, professor of biology at Tabor College, died March 27 after a long illness.

Wall, a 1972 Tabor graduate, had taught at Tabor since 1977. He earned master's and doctoral degrees at Oklahoma State University i 1975 and 1980.

His responsibilities over the years at Tabor included serving as chair of the natural and mathematical sciences division from 1987 to 1991. He had been a professor of biology since 1992.

the funeral for Wall will be held at 4 p.m. April 2 at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church, with a campus-wide memorial service to be held at 1:15 p.m. April 8 in the Chapel-Auditorium.

Mennonite Weekly Reivew obituary: 2005 Apr 18 p. 12

text of obituary:

Tabor community pays tribute to biology professor who died at 55

By Sara Cook

Tabor College

HILLSBORO, Kan. — Members of the Tabor College and Hillsboro communities remembered the life and career of biology professor Richard G. Wall during a memorial service April 8 in Tabor's Chapel-Auditorium.

Wall, 55, died March 27 from a bone marrow disorder in a Kansas City, Mo., hospital.

Students, as well as Tabor staff and faculty of the past and present, shared their memories of Wall.

"He was very inspirational," said chemistry student Sara Berg of Hillsboro." He was always willing to give of himself for us."

Chemistry professor Allen Hiebert said one of Wall's greatest interests was discussing how faith and science fit together.

"He was firmly convinced that there could be no conflict and that there was a great deal of mystery in both," Hiebert said. "God is the author of both. God has revealed himself in his word and in his work."

Hiebert, chair of the division of natural and mathematical sciences at Tabor as well as of the chemistry department, worked alongside Wall for 21 years.

Chris Hutson, a biology student from Wichita, said it was a blessing to see how his former professor cared about Tabor students and their interests.

"He never glorified himself," Hutson said. "It was just so amazing to me the incredible things he did and also the incredible things that I'm learning now that he did and never talked about. he just did them silently in service. He was a great role model for me."

Wall, a 1972 Tabor graduate first accepted a two-year teaching assignment at Tabor while another professor worked on his doctorate. Wall earned his master's and doctoral degrees in 1975 and 1980 from Oklahoma State University.

From 1977 to 1980, Wall served as a biology instructor, then established Tabor's agriculture program in 1980. He held the title of assistant professor of agriculture from 1980 to 1985 and associate professor of agriculture from 1985 to 1989. Wall returned to microbiology and genetics after the agriculture program's closure.

He chaired the natural and mathematical sciences division from 1987 to 1991. He was associate professor of biology from 1989 to 1991 and professor of biology from 1992 until his death.

Wall was active with the Hillsboro Historical Society an Museum, the Hillsboro Tree Board, the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies at Tabor, the annual Goessel threshing Days activities and Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.

He built the Jacob Friesen Dutch flour mill in Hillsboro, using the only known photograph as a blueprint.

Wall was diagnosed in May 2004 with myelodysplastic syndrome, in which the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells.

After the service, a magnolia tree was planted in Wall's memory.

Born Feb. 21, 1950, at Hillsboro, the son of Elmer and Frieda Bartel Wall, h married JoAnn Hein in 1973.

Survivors include his parents; his wife, JoAnn; two daughters, Jenny and Julie Wall, both of Hillsboro; a brother, Robert Wall of Conway Springs, and a sister, Sandra Garrard of Antelope.