A generous gift from an alumnus and friend of West Virginia Wesleyan College has provided for a columbarium to be located in the West Meditation Chapel on campus.

Rev. Dewayne Lowther ’57 was searching for peace of mind after the death of his spouse, Rev. Ginnie Settle Lowther ’68, and he found it at an unexpected moment: while attending the memorial service for United Methodist Bishop William Boyd Grove, Hon ’86. Lowther noticed the location for that service had a columbarium, and it sparked an idea.

Given his and his family’s deep personal and professional connections with West Virginia Wesleyan College, Lowther inquired if a columbarium could be located in or near Wesley Chapel. Rev. Jonathan Acord, Dean of the Chapel, explored the idea to determine feasibility and administration supported the project.

“How meaningful it has been to provide funds for the creation of a columbarium on Wesleyan’s campus and to plan for our niche where we can join ‘a cloud of witnesses,” Lowther said. “Other options had been discussed, but we kept coming back to Wesleyan. This is sacred space.”

The Lowthers were married on campus and lived in married housing on campus. Numerous family members have graduated from the institution and the Lowthers spent many years working with the West Virginia United Methodist Annual Conference held in Wesley Chapel.

“We’ve had awesome experiences and Wesleyan has been at the heart of it all,” Lowther said. “It’s where it all started.”

Thanks to Lowther’s generosity, Wesleyan’s new columbarium has been installed and is now available and ready to serve others who find the campus or the chapel home. Details can be found at www.wvwc.edu/columbarium or by contacting the Office of Advancement or the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life at WVWC. Niches can be reserved by alumni, faculty, staff and friends such as United Methodist clergy and laity.

“To be with people who are meaningful and to be surrounded by people who I’ve known for a long time – that’s what we wanted,” Lowther said. “This columbarium pulls it all together. I am happy that my gift to Wesleyan will also make this an option for others so that they, too, can have peace of mind.”