Perry Willard Munger III

Perry Willard Munger III, known to family and friends simply as Willard, passed away on April 26, 2026, just six days after celebrating his 82nd birthday. A man of extraordinary vision, dedication, and boundless curiosity, Willard spent his life building institutions, shaping minds, and serving communities across the globe. His life was a testament to what one person, guided by faith and a deep love of learning, can accomplish.

A Life of Global Service

Willard’s career defies easy summary. Holding a Ph.D. in Education with postdoctoral work in Software Engineering, he brought both scholarly rigor and practical skill to every assignment. He taught on three continents, founded a university, and contributed to the launch of another. This legacy of institution-building will educate generations long after his passing.

His journey began in the Congo, where he helped build and teach at a secondary school, which was the first of many postings that would take him from central Africa to the Indian subcontinent and beyond. He served in Pakistan, then India, before joining the General Conference in an IT programming capacity.

Among his most enduring contributions was the founding of Cosendai Adventist University in Cameroon, an institution that stands today as a monument to his faith and perseverance. He also played a pivotal role in the preliminary work to establish Burundi Adventist

University, and served on the faculty of the Adventist University of Central Africa in Rwanda. His time in Kenya included teaching in the graduate programs at Adventist University of Africa, further extending a record of Adventist educational service that spanned the continent.

Professor, Mentor, and Colleague at Southern

After completing postdoctoral studies in Colorado, Willard joined the faculty of Southern Adventist University as a Professor of Computer Science. He served two full tenures at Southern: from June 2002 through May 2013, and again from January 2019 through May 2025. Then, continuing as an adjunct faculty member through most of the 2025–2026 academic year. Throughout his time at Southern, he also taught graduate classes in the School of Computing, shaping future technology professionals at the advanced level. The thousands of students who passed through his classrooms carry with them not just technical knowledge, but the example of a life lived with purpose and principle.

Willard Munger’s life was marked by a willingness to go wherever he was called — to difficult places, to places of great need, and to places where he could make a lasting difference. He was a builder of things that outlast any single life: universities, relationships, and the enduring influence of a teacher who truly cared.

Survivors

Willard is survived by his beloved wife, Sherri Munger; his daughters, Cherie Munger, Patricia Anderson, and his son, Perry Willard Munger IV. He leaves behind a family that shared in his extraordinary journey and reflected the warmth and faithfulness that defined his life.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Arrangements entrusted to Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services Franklin-Strickland Chapel, 1724 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN, 37404, 423-265-4414.