Lowell Bock, a former general vice president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church who oversaw significant changes at Loma Linda University, has died at the age of 93.

Bock served on the Loma Linda University board of trustees in the 1970s and 1980s, including as board vice chair in the 1980s.

“Lowell Bock was a thought leader and active advisor during his two decades of service on our board of trustees,” said Richard H. Hart, president of Loma Linda University Health, the parent company of the university, an associated medical center, and other entities.

“His leadership was vital as we searched for solutions to some difficult issues, such as the decisions to make Loma Linda University Medical Center a separate corporation at that time, and to separate from La Sierra University to become an academic health science center,” Hart told the Adventist Review on Wednesday. “He believed passionately in this place and remained an active supporter until his death.”

Loma Linda University Medical Center became a separate corporation in 1980, while the decision to separate from La Sierra University was made in 1990.

A longtime senior church administrator, Bock served as president of the church’s Southern New England Conference and Lake Union Conference before being elected as a general vice president of the General Conference, the administrative body of the Adventist world church.

Under his direction as president of the Lake Union Conference, construction started on a new secondary school, now called Andrews Academy, according to a history published on the academy’s website. The new school began operation in September 1978.

https://www.andrews.edu/aa/about/history.html

Bock, born on June 1, 1923, died on Aug. 22, 2016, in Loma Linda, California.

He is survived by his wife, Merlo; a son, Allan Bock; daughters, Colleen Laudenslager and Janel Isaeff; five grandchildren and one great-grandson, Loma Linda University said in a statement.

https://myllu.llu.edu/newsoftheweek/story/?id=27585

A graveside service was held in Montecito Memorial Park cemetery on Sept. 11.