Stob, Henry (1908-1996) | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Henry Stob was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 24, 1908. He always had interest in ministry work, so he decided to enroll at Calvin College and Seminary where he graduated with a B.D. in 1935. He then furthered his education by attending Hartford Theological Seminary. He earned his Th.M. in 1936. His thirst for knowledge did not stop there, he studied aboard to earn his Ph.D. at University of Gottingen in Germany and did his post-doctoral work at the Free University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

After returning to the states, Stob accepted the position of associate professor of philosophy at his alma mater, Calvin College, in 1939. When World War II broke out, Stob served his country as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He was assigned with the task to work on the postwar education system of Japan. Once the war ended he resumed teaching at Calvin College. In 1952 Stob was appointed as professor of philosophical and moral theology at the Seminary. He became the chair of ethics and apologetics as well in 1953.  He served the Seminary until his retirement in 1975.

Throughout his busy career, Stob found time to write. He published books and written a number of articles and reviews. He was also served as the editor of The Reformed Journal since its beginning. He was also very involved in the church as well. He had served as an elder in the council of Calvin CRC in Grand Rapids. Stob was a gifted lecturer, he was approached by the Board of World Missions in 1958 to lecture at several foreign mission fields. Due to Stob's commitment to service and leadership, he was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1977.

On May 27, 1996 Henry Stob passed away due to cancer at the age of 87. He was survived by his wife, Hilda De Graaf, and their two children. Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary honor his memory with the Stob Lecture Series which focus on topics of ethics and apologetics.