March 3, 2003

March 3, 2003

Next Day

Lichun Walls, 62, taught chemistry at Morgan State.

Lichun Walls, who taught biochemistry at Morgan State University for 28 years and

researched the AIDS virus, died Monday, March 3rd, of melanoma cancer at her Towson home. She was 62.

Born Lichun Han in Guizhou, China, and raised in Taiwan, she earned a degree in agricultural chemistry from Taiwan University in 1962. She had a master's degree from Vanderbilt University and a doctorate from Tufts University. She also studied at the University

of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Walls became a U.S. citizen in 1971 and moved to

Baltimore four years later.

She joined the faculty of Morgan State in August 1978 and retired this month because

of ill health. She taught courses in biochemistry, organic chemistry, and general chemistry.

"She was so dedicated to teaching she taught her last class four days before she died," said her son, Edward Walls, a Peace Corps volunteer in Alba Iulia, Romania. "She had to be wheeled into the classroom. She could not walk or use her right arm. But she wanted to conduct her last exam. Teaching was the most important part of her professional life."

Throughout her career, Dr. Walls conducted protein research related to human

immunodeficiency virus infection. She also wrote scientific articles. Dr. Walls was an

accomplished contract bridge player and traveled the world.

Survivors include her husband of 35 years, Dr. Philip D. Walls, a Social Security

Administration psychiatrist; and another son, Wesley Walls of Baltimore.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Divinity Lutheran Church, 1220 Pro-

vidence Road, Towson.