Ezra Byler

Visiting Professor Ezra Byler Dies

Jan. 7, 2003

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Ezra Byler, visiting professor of finance at Illinois Wesleyan University, died Tuesday (Jan. 7) at BroMenn Medical Center. He was 62.

Byler, who had joined the Illinois Wesleyan faculty in the fall, suffered a heart attack early in the fall semester and had been hospitalized in St. Louis for several months.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 11) at Mennonite Church of Normal. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 10) at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Chicago Mennonite Learning Center, 4647 W. 47th St., Chicago IL 60632 or to the Mennonite Central Committee, P.O. Box 500, Akron, PA 17501.

Byler received a B.S. degree in Industrial Economics from Purdue University, an MBA in Finance from the University of Cincinnati, and a Ph.D. in finance from Kent State University. 
 
He had worked in industry at Link-Belt Div. of the FMC Corp., and in the Industrial Systems and Equipment group at Litton Industries.  He had also accepted various consulting assignments, usually for smaller businesses. He previously taught at Millikin, Illinois State, Kent State, and Eastern Mennonite College.

Byler was the recipient of a G. Theodore Mitau Award for Innovation and Change in Higher Education (American Association of State Colleges and Universities) for innovation in American University Education, one of nine awards nationally in the year received, for work done in student investment analysis and management.

He is survived by his wife, Sue, and their three children.