Paul Welliver

Dr. Paul W. Welliver, 87, Wyomissing, Pa., formerly of State College, Pa., passed away August 7, 2018, in the Reading Hospital.

He was the beloved husband of

M. Margaret (Reynolds) Welliver, with whom he shared 62 years of marriage on

July 7th. Born March 28, 1931, in Danville, Pa., Paul was one of five sons of the late Rev. Dr. Lester A. Welliver and Eleanor F. F. (Yeaworth) Welliver.

Paul graduated from Westminster (Md.) High School, where he participated in several varsity sports, including a state championship basketball team. In 1952, he graduated from Western Maryland College, now McDaniel College, with a major in chemistry and a minor in mathematics. While at WMC he played football including an undefeated season in 1951, and fondly recalled frequent visits from Dick Harlow and Rip Engle.

Paul taught science and mathematics at Manchester (Md.) High School before entering the Army during the

Korean War. After leaving the military, he taught

secondary school science in Williamsport, Pa. In 1959, he spent a year as lecturer for the Oak Ridge (Tenn.) Institute of Nuclear Studies. This led to his appointment as a science teacher on the North Carolina In-School Television

Network. For five years, through daily live television

broadcasts, Paul taught physical science to classrooms throughout the state. Paul received his Ph.D. in science

education from Penn State in 1965, while continuing to work for the North Carolina Department of Education. In 1967, he moved to Jackson, Mississippi, to become the

director of education for the new Mississippi Authority for Educational Television.

In 1969, Dr. Welliver accepted a faculty position as

professor in charge for the instructional media program in the College of Education at Penn State. He broadened the scope of the program from one primarily focused on

teacher education to one that prepared professionals for all levels of education and training. The result was the

creation of a program in instructional systems, which gained national recognition for the study of systematic

applications of technology in schools, higher education and business and industrial training. In cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, he developed

programs for the teaching of elementary and middle school science as part of his continued research into the use of broadcast television to drive educational change. Later, as microcomputers were introduced into schools, he obtained funding to create a network of regional computer resource centers for educators.

Dr. Welliver filled a number of leadership roles in his field. In 1975-76, he was president of the Pennsylvania Learning Resources Association (PLRA) and in 1983-84, president of the international Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). Awards

included the Science Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Award from the National Science Teachers

Association, The Pioneer Award from PLRA and

Distinguished Service Award from AECT. He remained

active professionally for many years following retirement from Penn State in 1991.

Paul and Margaret were active members of the State

College community and St. Paul's United Methodist Church for over 40 years before relocating to Berks County for a "second retirement" in 2011. Paul always enjoyed

nature and outdoor activities. Summer vacations were spent at a rustic cottage on Ahmic Lake near Magnetawan in northern Ontario, Canada. This remote location has

historical connections to both his and his wife's families, and was in fact where they first met in 1953. In the 1970s they acquired eighty-six acres of mountainous forestland in Central PA. Particularly after retirement, Paul became interested in managing and improving his woodlands for wildlife, timber and recreation through the Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association and a charter member of the Woodland Owners of Centre County.

In addition to his wife, Dr. Welliver is survived by:

daughter, Laura, and granddaughter, Morgan of

Wyomissing, Pa.; and daughter, Gwen, her husband, Ted Byfield, and granddaughter, Myriel of New York City and Tallahassee, Fla. He is also survived by one brother,

Dr. Kenneth B. Welliver, of Silver Spring, Md.; along with six sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

Paul is predeceased by three brothers: the Rev. L. Allyn Welliver, of Lewisburg, Pa., Dr. Daniel I. Welliver, of

Westminster, Md., and Dr. Glenn E. Welliver, of Greencastle, Ind.

A memorial gathering is planned for October 6th at

2:00 p.m. at Lincoln Park Community United Methodist Church, 1 Carlisle Avenue, Reading, PA 19609.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the church. Kuhn Funeral Home, West Reading, PA (www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com) is in charge of

arrangements.