Walter L. Wilson was born
in 1881 at Aurora, Indiana. After his mother
died the following year, he lived with his
grandmother. He trusted Christ as a teenager,
but selecting his life's work so challenged
young Walter that he methodically listed 45
potential trades and professions. Prayerfully
the list was whittled down, and his early
interest in medicine triumphed. He received
his M. D. from the University of Kansas and
settled down to a practice in Webb City, Missouri.
During medical school, Wilson had worked part-time
in his father-in-law's tent-making business
and had no intention of returning to the business
world after graduation, but the serious illness
of his father-in-law resulted in the fact
that, for a quarter century, Wilson was a
part-time doctor and a full-time tentmaker.
Customers included the legendary Buffalo Bill.
During World War I, he devised a method of
camouflaging and waterproofing tents in response
to an urgent request from General Pershing's
headquarters in France. Like H. A. Ironside
and others, Wilson was never ordained, but
he was able to found the Central Bible Hall,
Kansas City, which became Central Bible Church,
and remained at its helm until retirement
in 1961, when he became pastor emeritus. His
increasing burden for a school to train college-level
young people who were called of God led Wilson
to open the Kansas City Bible Institute in
1932 (now called Calvary Bible College). Wilson
began a radio ministry in 1924, becoming one
of the pioneers in that medium. His wide-ranging
subjects included medical themes, as well
as hardware and carpentry. But every message
was anchored in the Word of God and gave a
clear plan of salvation. Wilson authored 26
books, numerous brochures, and other publications
including medical and religious articles.
He had a unique, heartwarming, captivating
style. Dr. and Mrs. Wilson had eight sons
and daughters. In the spring of 1969, approaching
the age of 88, Dr. Wilson suffered a stroke
and died May 24, 1969.
