Westminster Memories

Reflection by Jimmy Meyer

Carroll Meyer and I followed our youngest son, Malcolm Todd Meyer '97, to the College of Wooster. After dropping him off on campus, we attended the parent orientation and discovered that there was an opening for a pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Carroll had been looking to leave his current call for a while. Fast forward to Carroll's first Sunday in Westminster's pulpit, Jan. 1, 1995. A group of church members, including Sarah Painter and her sister, Florence P. Griffith, asked to take us to dinner after worship. It being New Year's Day, their preferred restaurants were shut tight. Finally we ended up at Arby's, to the group's chagrin. Questions were asked and answered, unspoken rules laid down, Christian fellowship was had.

I remained in Cleveland for a while to sell our home, so Carroll needed a temporary place to live in Wooster. The College had only a few rooms open--in the same dorm where Malcolm was living. Happily both parties handled the short-term but awkward situation gracefully.

My Westminster memories include interacting in church, college, and community choirs with fine musicians such as Jeffrey Araluce, Stephen Leslie, Jeffrey Lindberg, and Kenneth Shafer.

Working on campus for Jeff Hanna, I got to know campus employees such as Elaine Smith Snyder, who became a treasured friend. Fellowship activities led us to other relationships with special people, such as John and Helen Monroe, Dorothy and Bob Iams, Reg and Marj Kramer, Dave and Gayle Noble, Linda and Greg Barbu, Brian and Laurie Beam, long-time family friends John and Adriana Dryer–the list goes on. Women's study groups gave me the opportunity to relate with the indomitable Mary Baird, the knowledgeable Betty Lou Stull, and others. Sharing meals with students offered a regular treat and the chance to broaden our epicurean repertoire.

I lovingly recall Westminster members reaching out to our family in hard times--asking me to share a sandwich after a difficult church meeting, for example, or coming to our Shreve home to help after Carroll's back surgery, when Dave Noble made a late night trip with pain relievers.

Marching for Women's Lives in Washington, DC, in 2004 with church friends Mary Kirkpatrick, Elaine Snyder, Linda Barbu, and others proved hard on the knees but truly memorable. I'll never forget the overnight ride to DC and back on the College of Wooster bus--may that be my last such experience.

Due to our work schedules, my Shreve neighbor Sandy Beery and I did not discover all that we had in common until after we had retired and moved away. Now I count Sandy as another Westminster treasure.

We had almost 14 years of worshiping, doing mission, and having fellowship with you all before Carroll retired in 2008. What a wonderful sendoff that was! 

Our years at Westminster Presbyterian Church challenged us, educated us, nurtured us. We still miss you. Happy anniversary.

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