What brought you to Wilshire and when?
After graduating from Oklahoma State University, two girlfriends and I came to Dallas to work for the summer. After visiting several churches, we joined Wilshire; it was integrated, just as our college church in Stillwater was. In the ’60s in Texas, this was unusual.
Who was pastor when you joined?
Bruce McIver was pastor, Bob Feather was educational director and Bill O’Brien was minister of music.
What was the building like when you joined?
McIver Chapel was the sanctuary and was considerably larger, with a choir loft and balcony, and it faced the opposite direction.
What ministries or staff members have impacted your life?
I joined singles Sunday School, sang in the choir and worked in junior high training union with Wayne and Betty Woodring. When summer was over, we returned to Oklahoma. A few months later, Wilshire called me to be youth director. In the ’60s, women were not ministers. I was responsible for junior high, high school, college and single adults. The youth were from five different junior high and high schools. The college students were from Baylor Nursing and SMU as well as Wilshire’s returning college students. The singles grew to three departments. I served for two-and-a-half years. Bill O’Brien had a big impact on Wilshire for missions. He and his wife, Dellanna, were called to the mission field from Wilshire, and our church became more committed to mission endeavors. I worked with Bob Feather at both Wilshire and Park Cities Baptist. Bob married Don and me, and George Mason baptized our daughter, Meredith. George, Bruce and Bob Feather married Meredith and Matt. George also baptized our granddaughter, Parker.
Why have you stayed so long?
When Don and I married in 1972, I joined Wilshire again, as he was being ordained as a deacon. I had been serving on staff at Park Cities, and we loved both churches; it was a difficult decision. The decision was right for us. Don served as chair of deacons. We have both served on several committees, taught Sunday School in several age groups and made lasting friendships with several generations of many wonderful families. Now three generations of our family are Wilshire members.