Dr. Harold L Willmington

Dr. Harold L. Willmington, 86, of Forest went to be with his Lord on Monday, October 15, 2018. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sue Willmington. Born in Patterson, Illinois, April 7, 1932, he was the son of the late Paul Willmington and Valma Brown Willmington. Early in his career, Dr. Willmington pastored for 16 years in four different states. He came to Lynchburg in 1972 where he began teaching in the first academic year of Lynchburg Baptist College, now Liberty University, making him the longest serving member of Liberty’s faculty to date. He was the founder of the Liberty Bible Institute now the Willmington Bible Institute and created the Liberty Home Bible Institute which is the first distance learning program Liberty University ever offered. He was also a noted author of bible study materials including the Willmington’s Guide to the Bible. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and teacher. In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Matthew L. Willmington and his wife Christine of Lynchburg; three grandchildren, Nathan P. Willmington, Carissa Hassett and her husband Aaron, and Abigail Willmington; one brother, Gordon Willmington of Grand Rapids, MI and one sister, June Smith of Houston, TX. A service celebrating his life will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 21, 2018 at Thomas Road Baptist Church with Pastor Jonathan Falwell, Dr. Elmer Towns, Mr. Jerry Falwell, Jr. and Dr. Matt Willmington officiating. Interment will follow later at the Founders Circle at Liberty University. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Thomas Road Baptist Church. Because of Dr. Willmington’s love of the Bible and helping young Pastors, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Liberty Church Network, P.O. Box 10174 Lynchburg, VA 24506 or to the Gideon’s International P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090, gideons.org/donate.