Meryl E. Welch, age 92, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. As a young teenage musician, Meryl served her Lord in playing for many youth rallies. She was a marimba musician and was invited to serve in many weekly revival meetings in cities and churches of West Michigan. In 1942 she married Wilbert Welch, pastor of the North Casnovia Baptist Church, Bailey, MI. Their ministry at this church was brief, but richly blessed. Both sensed the need for additional education, enrolling at Bob Jones University in 1943. While attending the university, they were called to serve at Calvary Baptist Church of Rome, GA where not only her husband served as the pastor, but Meryl became very involved in daily radio music broadcast ministry for seven days a week. During these years, five children were added to the Welch family, four boys, David, Robert, Wendyl, and Dale, and lastly, a girl, Donna Jeanne. Currently there are 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Preceding Meryl in death were her parents, Arza and Mabelle Ball of Greenville, her daughter, Donna Jeanne at one and one-half years, her son, David in 1994, and her sister, Enna Darlene Myers in 2008, and three grandchildren. Following a five year ministry in Rome, GA, there were ten fruitful years at Calvary Baptist of Muskegon. In 1959 Wilbert accepted a call to be president of the Grand Rapids Bible Institute. Meryl became deeply involved in the growth of the Institute to the current Cornerstone University. In reviewing these years of ministry with her husband, Meryl has stated often that they both praise the Lord for the fruitful years He so graciously granted them. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Dr. W. Wilbert Welch, Ph.D.; children, Robert A. and Nancy Kay Welch, W. Curtis and Sandra Welch, and Dale T. and Marcia Welch, and Arlene and Joel Betts. The Service of Praise and Thanksgiving for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ for Mrs. Welch will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Berean Baptist Church, 1574 Coit, NE, Grand Rapids with Pastor Robert Welch and Pastor Steven Welch officiating. Interment in Fairplains Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the Pederson Funeral Home on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Music Department at Cornerstone University, 1001 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI. The Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com