A retired HCJB Global pianist known for her gentle, endearing personality, Wilda Zoe Savage, died in Okemos, Mich., on Wednesday, Jan. 16. She was 88.

Wilda and her late husband, Bob, who died in November 1987, were missionaries in Latin America and leaders of several Baptist churches in Michigan.

Bob and Wilda met while studying at Wheaton College, in Wheaton, Ill., and married in September 1938. Bob then worked as assistant pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. He later became the pastor of First Baptist Church in Romeo, Mich., and founded First Baptist Church in Washington, Mich.

In 1940, when the Savages sensed the Lord leading them to missionary service, Wilda wrote the well-known missionary hymn, "Lord, Send Me," which continues to inspire young people on their way to missionary service abroad.

Bob and Wilda served for 27 years as missionaries in Colombia and Ecuador. They went to Colombia with The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) in 1942, first in Pamplona for a period of language study, then at a mission station in Chinácota as evangelistic missionaries.

In 1944, frustrated by the lack of progress in the work in Colombia, the couple moved to Quito, Ecuador, to serve with HCJB Global where they worked in broadcasting, music, youth outreach and administration.

They became well known throughout Latin America for their daily radio program, "Himnos de la Vida Cristiana" (Hymns of the Christian Life). Wilda played the piano and organ and sang duets with her husband. Wilda's most well-known hymn in Spanish was, "Oh Cristo, Anhelo Agradarte." It was later translated into English as "Jesus, I Fully Surrender."

After resigning from the mission in 1969, the couple returned to the U.S. to enter pastoral service, leading churches in central and western Michigan, including Dalton Baptist Church in Muskegon, Mona Shores Baptist Church, Evanston Avenue Baptist Church and Haslett Baptist Church.

Wilda is survived by her four children, Steve, Carol, Jim and Judi, as well as 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held this spring in Muskegon.