Bob and Dorothy Iams
Westminster Presbyterian Church Members
1967 to present (57 years)
Active members for over 57 years, Dorothy and Bob have continued to faithfully support Westminster’s mission since joining in 1967 when they moved to Wooster for Bob’s new job as Junior High Music Teacher for South Eastern Local Schools (Waynedale). They were drawn to Westminster because they liked the smaller congregation, Clare Adel Schreiber’s church school program for their two young children—Doug and Brenda—and the Church’s outreach to the community and to the world on issues important to their beliefs. At the time Ray Swartzbach was minister and the congregation met in a white wooden church on campus, close to where McGaw Chapel now sits. When that church was torn to build McGaw Chapel, for two years the services were held in a campus gym. In 1970 when McGaw was complete, Bob and Dorothy joined the church choir and their long history as active members of our congregation began.
Bob, a native of Canton, Ohio, was born into a musical family of 7 boys, one, his identical twin brother, Bill. The twins grew up playing their instruments in the school orchestra and singing in the school choir. At the end of World War II, drafted into the Navy at age 18 during in their junior year of high school, they were shipped to the Philippines and their musical talents earned them positions in the base orchestra— Bob playing trumpet and baritone and Bill the flute and saxophone. Returning safely home after 1 year, 1 month and 10 days, in time to complete their senior years, they graduated from Canton McKinley High School. Music became Bob’s life. With the war behind him and the benefit of the GI Bill, Bob enrolled at Bowling Green University where he sang in the choir and played in the marching band and orchestra, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Music Education. After teaching two years and wanting to broaden his instrumental repertoire, he continued his education at the University of Michigan, receiving with his Master’s. “Go Blue!”
Dorothy, the middle child of 3 girls in a long-time Presbyterian family, was born in Pittsburgh, but grew up in Kentucky and West Virginia because of her father’s job. Blessed with her grandfather’s artistic talent, she expressed hers through sewing and watercolors. Encouraged by a very good teacher in the 7th grade, she became interested in sewing and began making her own clothes. She continued sewing from then on for herself, her children and the her grandson. Her supportive parents wanted all their daughters to go to college—and they did—attending Muskingum, a Presbyterian college in New Concord, Ohio. Dorothy, majoring in Home Economics and Spanish, stayed in Ohio after graduation when she began her new job with Columbia Gas as a “Betty Newton”, a Home Service Representative in Ashland and Richland Counties, demonstrating how to safely use gas appliances to make meals. She was the Martha Stewart of her day!
One fateful day in 1958, Dorothy met Bob at Jeromesville HS where Bob was a music teacher and band director after receiving his Master’s Degree and she was demonstrating how to make meals to teachers so they could show their students. The following June 1959, they were married at the Ashland Presbyterian Church. In 1960, their son, Doug was born and in 1962, daughter, Brenda and in 1967 the family moved to Wooster.
When they began singing in WM’s choir, Bob began his long history of playing for the services—piano solos, the tympani, the euphonium and the trumpet as part of a brass quartet or trio—and many times accompanying their daughter Brenda when she played the flute. Keeping track of his performances in McGaw, Bob performed 52 times before services moved to the Church House. Since then, the number continues to grow larger every year! Besides sharing his love of music with us and his students, he shared it with the community as a long time member of the Ashland, Wooster, Orrville and Medina Community Bands. We are so grateful for Bob’s talent and his musical contribution to our services and to the community.
While Bob shared his musical talent, Dorothy willingly volunteered wherever needed at church—as Deacon, Food & Hospitality, Congregational Care, Meals on Wheels, Flowers, Choir, Liturgist and more—and in the community for People to People. When they first moved to Wooster, she volunteered at Kean Elementary—first as Room Mother, then as Librarian. She soon was offered a part-time morning position as a Teacher’s Aide from which she retired in 1996. When her friend opened Fabrics Unlimited across from Discount DrugMart, she accepted a part-time afternoon position working there until 1994 when the fabric store closed. A talented seamstress, she made clothes for the store, including a pink prom dress for Brenda that took 13 yards of chiffon! Her artistic talents extend to water color painting. She has exhibited her artwork with the Wayne County Water Color Guild and you can see her artwork in the gender-neutral bathroom at the church house.
Retiring in 1982 at age 55 from teaching, Bob tried out several new jobs—at the Chevy Dealer, the Honda Dealer, Buehler’s Fresh Foods and the City of Wooster, where he drove the city bus route for 9 years. Dorothy recalls the times when driving the bus, Bob would make quick stops at home to start the lawn mower so she could mow the lawn. Teamwork!
Today—Dorothy and Bob remember many pastors, assistant pastors, choral directors and long-time members over the years—Ray Swartzbach, Tim Anderson, Barry Shepard, Cynthia Jarvis, Gordon Stewart, Mark Wendorf, Carol Meyer, Linda Morgan Clement, Barbara Dua, Jim Henery, Nancy Dale; Richard Gore, Jim Mismus, Stephen Leslie, Maryann Litwiller, David Hoffelt, and John & Helen Monroe.
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