John G. Balyo passes at eighty-nine
April 20, 2009
Dr. John G. Balyo passed away peacefully at the Tierra Rose Care Center in Salem at 2:40 p.m. Saturday, April 18th. He was 89. His wife Betty and son Mike were at his bedside and witnessed his homegoing.
The memorial service will be at First Baptist Church of Salem, next Saturday, April 25, at 1:30 p.m.
We will be assembling more on the story and photos of Dr. Balyo's life on the Corban website, as things develop during the week.
John and Betty Balyo came to serve at Corban (Western Baptist) College in 1983. Dr. Balyo served as President until 1991 and following that, was Chancellor and then President Emeritus until his death. Betty served as the President of the Women for Western auxiliary for 17 years.
Prior to coming to Oregon, Dr. Balyo pursued a law degree from Atlanta Law School but later felt directed by the Lord to begin full-time Christian ministry. He later graduated from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana.
Dr. Balyo pastored two churches in Indiana followed by 20 years as pastor of Cedar Hill Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. He taught at two of our sister schools—Grand Rapids Baptist Bible Seminary and Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, before coming to Corban in 1983. His reputation as a man of character earned him the respect of his peers and the invitation to the presidency. He is best remembered for maintaining the health and well-being of the College after a period of declining enrollment.
The Corban community all shared in his public life, and we are better because of his faithful example to us all.
