Older Adults of Asbury First
A Rich Inheritance
3
In the spring and summer of 2019, a group of people gathered in the office of Rev. Kathy Thiel with a single goal in mind: honor members of the congregation by writing their stories, as told by them. The people who volunteered to do the interviewing were enthusiastic, and before long, a list of possible interviewees was composed. We were ready to get started on the continuation of a project started years earlier. In 2011 a book entitled A Rich Inheritance was printed. This new group of interviewers was ready to roll, ready to learn more about those among us who had done so much for Asbury First United Methodist Church. Then 2020 arrived. Life as we once knew it came to a screeching halt. A few interviews had already been done. People who had agreed to do interviews needed to drop out, as life circumstances had changed for them. With prompting and reminding, we did get back on track, and by the summer of 2022, more interviews were being conducted or rewritten. It is my pleasure to thank those who did the interviews. Nancy Davidow, Lani Anderson, Sharon Vincent, Elizabeth Church, Chris Linsner-Cartwright, Ann Smith and yours truly all contributed time to this project. One couple even did their own write-up! Editing help from Kathy Thiel, Carol Lamica, Angie Burch, Scott VanBortle, the Eppings, and Barbara Eltinge (among others) was appreciated. Most notably, it is appropriate to thank Aleeya Bourcy and Sarah Brubaker for the ongoing help they gave this project, and recently, David Stith and Ly Tran. While A Rich Inheritance continues in this issue, it does not end here. Already people are at work on more interviews; the list of names yet to be contacted for interviews continues to grow. We hope that another issue will be available within the next five years, and continue after that. We say that because we all know that Asbury First exists because of A Rich Inheritance. With gratitude to all involved, Ruth VanDerLinden April 2024
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Marilyn & Ray Waring 8 Nancy & Charles Christiansen 9 Ralph & Joanne Zimmer 10-11 Bob & Ginny Fitch 12-13 Bob & Betty Power 14-15 Ida Hickman 16-17 J. Ernest Du Bois 18-20 Jane Pauly 21-22 Marylyn Calkins Soule 23 Bill & Maxine Lisi 24-26 Rowena (Ginn) & Mason Fitch 27-28 Ted & Peggy Epping 29-30 Val Van Bortle 31 Warren Doerrer 32-33 Ann & Herb Englehardt 34
Spring 2024 You hold in your hands words and pictures that reflect lives of those we know, have known, and will always love. Read their stories and let your own memories of them fill this space between us. Know that those who have died remain always in our hearts in the love we will always share. Find comfort in their wisdom and courage in their convictions. Recall laughter you shared and silly jokes often repeated. Above all, know that the love of God, an eternal and unconditional gift for all people, is theirs and yours and ours together. Love is immortal; it is what our lives are made of. Love lives in our hearts and keeps us strong. Love works in and among us all as we ask to be more concerned with loving others than we are with being loved ourselves. We are eternally grateful to the people whose lives we read about in this volume of A Rich Inheritance, and we are grateful to the ones who listened to and recorded their stories. Enjoy a glimpse into these lives and know the love of God between you and among us all. Love, Rev. Kathy Thiel Minister for Congregational Care
Table of Content
Marilyn and Ray Waring met in high school, courted when at Alfred, and married in 1951. Originally from Derby, New York, Marilyn and Ray made their way to Rochester in the mid- 1980’s. They were drawn to Rochester as two of their three daughters had made their homes in Rochester. Marilyn and Ray began their work in Rochester as part of their daughters’ (Sandra and Eileen) business, Tasteful Connections. Marilyn became a partner in Tasteful Connections before moving to Rochester making several trips a week from Derby. Marilyn was known at Tasteful Connections for her excellent baking skills, and Ray worked in the female owned business as their accountant and bookkeeper. When Sandra Holloway and her family joined Asbury First in 2000, Marilyn and Ray followed suit! Long time members of the Partnership Class and as regular worshipers at the 8:30 am service, they especially enjoyed the music program. Their friendship with fellow members of the Partnership Class has sustained them over the years. The luncheons and social gatherings of the Partnership Class are among their most cherished memories. Worshiping with Sandra’s family, husband Dave, and children Jennifer and Brian, and watching their grandchildren grow in spirit and love at Asbury First has been a joy for them. They also volunteered many hours at the Asbury First Storehouse. Marilyn and Ray shared 67 years of marriage. Ray died in February, 2019, and Marilyn died in May, 2023. We thank God for their loyalty and gifts they have shared over the years at Asbury First.
The Rev. Dr. Charles Christiansen and his wife, Nancy, joined Asbury First in 1996. Along with their twin boys, Keith and Kenneth, Charles pastored the Greece Baptist Church in Greece, New York before retiring in 1994. Before retiring, Charles served pastorates in Vestal and Burnt Hills, New York, all American Baptist Churches. They sought a church in their retirement similar to their Baptist spiritual experiences and thus chose Asbury First. The preaching, music, friendliness and spiritual life are what attracted them to Asbury First. Once members, they became a part of the Partnership Class enjoying the friends made through class and social functions. Charles used his spiritual gifts as Asbury’s Visiting Pastor for many years. Charles, along with Nancy, taught a Sunday morning class. The tradition of his class was followed by David Lubba who continued to teach that same class. Among their many gifts shared with the Asbury community, they also served at Keuka College in a summer program training church school teachers. Nancy had a career as an elementary school teacher and following that career, was the Administrative Assistant to the Executive Minister of American Baptist Churches of the Greater Rochester Community. For several years, Nancy used her teaching skills as a tutor in the School #41 outreach project of Asbury First. Charles passed away in 2018. We thank God for Nancy and Charles and the many gifts they have shared and continue to share with the Asbury First community.
Marilyn & Ray Waring
Nancy & Charles Christiansen
Music, music, music! That is a thread that runs through the life of Ralph Zimmer, and his wife, Joanne. His parents were involved with music; her family was likewise involved. Joanne Williams Zimmer grew up in the old Asbury Methodist Church where Ralph was baptized and grew up. The two met on the sidelines of a sports field, probably in Irondequoit. Ralph graduated from that high school and then went on to the University of Rochester, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in General Sciences. Following that, he spent 3 years in the Navy during WWII. Ralph and Joanne were married on August 6, 1948, by Dr. Crossland. In June of 1949, the Partnership Class was formed, and Ralph and Joanne were charter members. Ralph is now the only living charter member! The group became the center of their lives. Lifelong friendships were molded with Mason and Ginn Fitch and Kay and John Arnold, among others. Both Ralph and John worked at Kodak. After 40 years, Ralph retired in 1986 as the Department Head of Tactical Systems, Engineering, and Manufacturing. The Zimmer family moved to Webster in 1953 with three small children, and still attended Asbury. When those three children were in their teen years, they wanted to participate in activities with their friends, and that included going to the youth group at the Webster Methodist Church. A strong music program as well as a theatrical program drew them in. Joanne, the oldest of five Willliams daughters, was the organist. Her father was teased that he was like comedian Eddie Cantor, also the father of five daughters. Ralph and Joanne had two families of three children each for a total of six children: Glenn, Susan, Diane, Robert, Ellen and Carol. Ralph’s daughter, Carol Lamica, is currently director of the youth choir at Asbury First. Carol also teaches music in the Rush-Henrietta School District. Another daughter, Ellen Lewis, is a soloist who is frequently accompanied by her husband, Dr. Darren Lewis, himself a professor of music, choir director, organist, and composer. The two have provided music during services at Asbury First. When asked about influences in his life, Ralph immediately names Bob Hill (the Rev. Dr. Robert A. Hill, former pastor at Asbury First) and remembers sitting with him at the head table during the 50th Anniversary at Oak Hill. Dr. Crossland was also an influence, and so was his namesake, the Rev. Ralph Cushman, who later became Bishop. Back to MUSIC: Sunday school hymns that were learned by heart, ‘Seems to me I’ve Heard that Song Before,’ music with deep inherent value: all are treasured by Ralph. Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art are particular favorites, and the first may have been his mother’s favorite as well. Those two hymns, along with Pie Jesu, bring forth strong emotion. Ralph puts strong emphasis on his family ties, mentioning a once-a-year family reunion and other family functions. His family has grown from six children to include sixteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. One son-in-law is a Baptist minister and another, mentioned earlier, is an organist and choir director. It was affinity for good music that brought Ralph and Joanne back to Asbury First. Ralph shared so many memories of his life and of family activities and Asbury First connections: * Tom Steen and the parsonage on Culver Road near the Armory * A picnic and baseball game when a bat flew out of Ralph’s hand and hit Tom! * Bobsledding in Ellison Park * Structured classes, organized by age * Donald Barner, who married Janet Crossland (daughter of Dr. Crossland) * Barbara Moffatt VerHile, John Parr, John Moore * His older brother, who was active in church, is Calvin, a retired Methodist minister, living in Rome, NY * Sports nut: If there is a sporting event on television, Ralph is watching it, especially the Bills and the Yankees Ralph closes by saying that he appreciates that Asbury First exists, the outreach programs that have been developed over the years, and Rev. Stephen Cady, for his youth and enthusiasm, and he looks forward to the growth of the church. As someone said of Ralph, he is a man of cheerful yesterdays and confident tomorrows. Amen!
Ralph & Joanne Zimmer (cont'd)
Ralph & Joanne Zimmer
Bob & Ginny Fitch (cont'd)
The Fitch Family has strong and long ties to Asbury First. Bob Fitch's mother belonged to Asbury. In 1890 his father’s family started attending Asbury after attending a Baptist church, but switched because he did not want to be ‘dunked’ in order to join! The family is the oldest on record as members of Asbury, with their start at the ‘old’ Asbury located further west on East Ave. Bob’s grandfather was an architect and designed the balcony in that church. Today it is known as the Lyric Theater, and news stories have shown the beauty of the inside of the building. Also of note, Bob’s dad was the first Scoutmaster of Troop 24. Bob grew up in Brighton and joined the Sea Scouts at age sixteen, in 1944. Ginny was born in New Jersey and, because of her dad’s job moves as a head of DuPont, the family moved to Pennsylvania and then to Rochester. Bob and Ginny met in the Red Room at Asbury First. It was Christmas of 1949, and Ginny’s family was new in town. The Wilson girls, Ruth and Margaret, invited Ginny to the Young Adult Christmas party, and that is where Ginny and Bob met. Their first date was at the YMCA New Year’s Eve party. The two young people attended St. Lawrence U. and Clarkson U., conveniently located just ten miles apart! Bob was drafted into the Army; the couple became engaged in the summer of 1951, and were married in March in the Presbyterian Church. Their wedding reception took place at 1010 East Ave. and was put on by women from Asbury. In the Army Corps of Engineers, Bob was assigned to teach bridge building in Fort Belvoir in Virginia. The couple rented an apartment in Alexandria. Alone a lot of the time, Ginny wanted a job, and became a salesperson selling encyclopedias door-to-door. The job did not last long, as Ginny contracted poison ivy and quit her job. This was fine with Bob, as he was not enthusiastic about her doing it! Memories of Asbury include John and Rhonda Philips and the Partnership babies. Tom Steen was a teacher of the Doublers for five or six years, and Win and Steele were a part of that group. The Steens and the Steeles organized retreats at the Watson Homestead, in the Southern Tier, for families. Tom also encouraged the formation of small groups, all of which lasted into 2018 and 2019. Within the Doublers, people would gather in homes, and these groups became the basis of friendships that lasted for years. Ginny spoke with enthusiasm about the Storehouse, started over 50 years ago by Dolly Rugg, Mary Morin, Ada Finley, and others. Rochester Neighbors was a group started by a Savings and Loan officer. The purpose was to provide inner city housing, and expanded to helping individual families get settled, solve problems, and be supportive in other ways. The Petherbridges and Fitches and other Doubler members were involved in this group. The Pawlish sisters, Celia, Stella and Helen, are remembered fondly. The Monday Morning Crew benefited from having Bob’s help from 1987 until 2015; he also helped out in the Storehouse. Both sang in the choir for more than 40 years. Bob remembers Dick Henn at the laying of the cornerstone for the new church at 1040 East Ave. Their love of Outreach programs at Asbury First is evident. Bob worked for two summers with the County of Monroe Bridge Department, then went into the service teaching bridge building, and then returned to Monroe County. When asked about his responsibilities, he would only say that he kept moving up in the county. Ginny and Bob are parents to four children: Kathryn, Scott, Mary, and Tim. Kathryn is married, and has three children and four grandchildren. Scott is married to Michele, who has one son; Scott retired after years as Brighton Fire Chief. Mary is married to a Presbyterian minister, and lives in Pennsylvania; they have two daughters. At one time, Mary worked at Grand Canyon University as Manager of Student Activities. Tim has two children, and is an Industrial Designer. Favorite Bible verses: The 23rd Psalm; Psalm 121; and 2 Timothy. Favorite hymns: The Spirit Song (sung by the Doublers class to open each gathering on Sunday mornings); How Great Thou Art; Eternal Father, Strong to Save; Be Thou My Vision. Ginny died in 2022 and Bob died a year later in 2023.
Bob & Ginny Fitch
Bob and Betty Power
Bob and Betty Power, wed for 76 years, met on a blind date at Dartmouth College in 1942. It was Fall Weekend and they experienced a mutual attraction. World War II was underway and they both became active in the war effort. Bob, in his senior year at Dartmouth joined the Air Force in 1943, serving as a radio engineer for three years with the Signal Corps, in Foggia, Italy, 50 miles south of Naples. Betty, who was trained in ballet and tap dancing, was performing with a professional group in New York City. She volunteered to serve via the USO, joining a dance troupe in Japan; later, she worked in North Africa. The couple were often apart during these years, but kept in touch through writing and occasional visits. Marriage was delayed “as life was unsettled with the War, which ended completely (1945) after the A-bomb,” said Bob. In 1946, they married in Betty’s hometown, Westfield, NJ. Bob had one year of graduate school to finish, and used the GI Bill to complete a business degree from Dartmouth. The Powers moved to Bob’s home area, Rochester, due to work opportunities here. Bob’s father was deceased and his mother was living alone in the family home, where he grew up, on a dairy farm in the Victor/Macedon area. Bob secured employment at Kodak and worked there for 35 years. His leisure time activities included golf and tennis. Betty also worked at Kodak for three or four years, then started ballet classes as an advanced student. She had formerly studied at the School of American Ballet in New York City, performed at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera, and other sites all over the world. She eventually owned and operated a dance school in Rochester for ten years, then left this work to provide care for their children and her parents. During their early days in Rochester, they had an apartment. Then they started looking for a church, locating the ‘wooden church’ Asbury, on East Avenue. Dr. Crossland was the pastor; they decided to join in the late 1950s-early ‘60s, and maintained active membership over many years. This included twenty years of choir for Betty, teaching Sunday School, Altar Guild, and working in the Storehouse. They bought a house in Irondequoit, lived there 50 years, and saw the area develop from farmland to suburban housing and commercial use. Their two children, Bruce and Christine, grew up there and walked to school. Bruce worked as a pilot for Delta Airlines for 30 years. He resides in Minneapolis with his wife and their two daughters. Christine first went to her father’s alma mater, Dartmouth; she now lives in Boston and works with companies in the field of data processing. Bob and Betty have two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Bob and Betty enjoyed many years of retirement living in a Pittsford senior community, with no stairs and many amenities. They also enjoyed watching Asbury First services on TV, and Betty enjoyed watching ballet performances when possible. Betty (Elizabeth) Purvis Power died peacefully at home on October 1, 2021.
Bob and Betty Power (cont'd)
Ida was born in Canton Mississippi and was an only child. She joined the Baptist Church at age ten and was baptized in a pond. When it came time to choose a career, Ida chose nursing. Ida was invited to come here by cousins who lived in Rochester. (She joked “They didn’t tell me how cold it was!”) Her first job in Rochester was at Genesee Hospital. Ida met her husband Hogan because he was a friend of one of her cousins. They divorced when their youngest child was seven. Ida attended another church in Rochester for eight years, but that church closed. She was invited to Asbury First by her friend Vera White. It was the ‘70’s and her children Angie and Patrick were six and five years old. Ida remembers asking Vera if Asbury was racially mixed because she felt nervous about attending. On Ida’s first visit, someone reached over, touched her shoulder and said welcome. She immediately felt more comfortable and was grateful. Ida was impressed by how nice people were. She soon met Marge Warner and Mary Ann Geib and eventually the whole Sunday School Class. She was asked if she would like to join Asbury First and then if she would like to teach Sunday school, which she did for several years. Her third child, Jermaine, was born during this time and she took him to class with her. From there, Ida began to branch into new activities like Altar Guild and there has been no stopping her involvement since. Ida has always been glad that she can walk to Asbury from her home. To this day, when Ida sees someone who she thinks is new, she reaches out to them hoping to pass on the comfort and welcome that was offered to her. Ida speaks of her mom and dad as really good people who always tried to do the right thing and were quick to help others. “Miss Jessie”, as her mom was called, was known as someone who would always step in when there was a need. Ida’s parents were married for 65 years and were farmers who raised “everything that could grow”. Ida has three children. Her daughter Angie has a business degree from the U of R and has worked for the Rochester Housing Authority and Planned Parenthood, and Allendale Columbia. Ida’s middle child Patrick fell on the ice and was on disability. Her youngest son Jermaine is a programmer for Paychex in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Ida has six grandchildren whom she enjoys very much. Ida’s upbringing strongly influenced her spirituality. Her parents, family members, and church were formative. Ida treasured the emotion expressed in her childhood church and sometimes misses it. She says she “can’t sing worth a hoot” but she loved singing the hymns (“singing a message to God’s ears”) and clapping as well… even on blue days, it always made (and makes) her feel happy! Ida says she has never been a crowd pleaser. ”If it feels right and matches what I think is right, I do it.” Like her parents, she wants to be a participant and it makes her sad not to be able to do as much with various projects as she would like to. She can’t stand by and not jump in. Ida says “What I do I enjoy and, as my folks taught me, I try to give it my best.” Ida’s favorite scriptures are Psalm 23 and Micah 6:8 (Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God). Her favorite hymns are Precious Lord and Amazing Grace. Ida remembers when Rev. Dr. Mark Rahls got her all excited about the renovations and continued growth that were being planned for Asbury First. She feels happy to look back over all of the progress that has been made since then. Ida appreciates that money has been raised first, before building commences, and that members have been kept well-informed. Ida feels grateful for the support she receives from Asbury First, most notably after she had a knee replacement. Her Fifty Plus class members were “so, so supportive” and the food ministry faithfully brought her meals. The pastors visited. She felt loved and her rehab staff was very impressed by it all. Ida’s sacred place is her home in Mississippi. Until recently, she returned there for two weeks each summer, each time feeling like “a kid in a candy shop.” You can hear her heart swell as she visualizes and describes the people she goes back to see (the cousins, friends, and the older folks that she pays a visit to) and the experiences she goes back to savor again (the church, the week-long revival meetings with the picnics, music, hymn singing and shouting, with everyone dressed up for dinner and saying hello to everyone). Ida has not been home in a while, but still she calls, says hi, and catches up to keep that love flowing.
Ida Hickman
Ida Hickman (cont'd)
J. Ernest Du Bois (cont'd)
J. Ernest Du Bois
James Ernest Du Bois, born November 19, 1926 at the old Rochester General Hospital on West Main Street, was the first-born child of Leon Ernest and Evelyn Eckel Du Bois. Eventually he was joined by three siblings: Carolyn, Leon, and Ann. The Du Bois family supported and participated in organizations working to improve educational, social, and cultural causes, and as an adult, Ernest could have coined the expression, “giving back to the community.” Ernest developed an early interest in education. His young neighborhood playmates became students at Crayola School, founded on Fair Place, by guess who?! A natural and intuitive teacher was born. Ernest was educated in the Rochester School District, first at Audubon #33 School, and then East High School on Alexander Street. He enjoyed participating in numerous clubs and organizations. He took particular pride in being a member of the Spanish Honor Society and in his election as Sergeant of Arms of the Student Government Association. At the U of R, his love of education deepened and as a result, Ernest earned his BA in History and English and his MA in Education in 1949. During those years, Ernest also worked at the U of R Library on the Prince Street Women’s Campus. After being told that, as an African American, it might be easier for him to get a job in a larger city, such as Chicago, Ernest was on a mission. “If RSD could successfully educate me, then RSD will hire me!” And RSD did hire him: first, as a substitute teacher at Edison Tech; second, in 1952, as a full-time teacher at Benjamin Franklin High School, where he taught for 10 years. Ernest was the first African American tenure-track high school teacher in Rochester. He was named Teacher of the Year more than once! Ernest was appointed as the Social Studies Department Chair at East High School in 1962 and held the position for one year. The position may have been too political or had too many outside influences, but being a department chair definitely put distance between Ernest and his first love, the students. In order to reevaluate his goals, he stepped away and accepted a position with Lincoln First Bank as Vice President of the East End Branch at East Main and Goodman Streets. Ernest had found another way to give back to his community. He interfaced with former students and peers, neighbors, and business people from the area. The sirens of education continued to woo Ernest. He heeded their call when he accepted a teaching position at The School Without Walls (SWW). SWW offered a smaller environment that gave him the opportunity to guide students with their classroom academics and with the various individual projects assigned to or chosen by them. It was a wonderful fit for Ernest. He was thrilled to see these teens broadening their visions and viewpoints while increasing their independence and maturity. Ernest taught at SWW until he retired in 1989; however, after ‘retirement,’ SWW was the only school from which he would accept substitute teaching requests. The bonds among the staff members at The School Without Walls were very strong and remain so today. Ernest’s participation in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) began when he joined the Unit at #33 school, where his mother was already a member. Together, they took on increasing responsibilities to the point of being mainstays of the group. During that time both he and his mother were awarded lifetime memberships at the same time for their efforts and their high level of commitment. As time passed, Ernest's involvement with the PTA evolved from the local level to the regional and state levels. He held many different positions and made many contacts and friends across New York State. One of his proudest moments was when the Genesee Valley PTA established the J. Ernest Du Bois Educator Award, which ‘recognizes an active educator…who is active in the PTA, has served on the unit’s executive board or is serving in a capacity that furthers the mission of the PTA and has made a commitment to the PTA and all children.” Ernest was also actively involved with the Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley, Rochester Area United Nations, Children’s Memorial Scholarship, Russian-American Exchanges, Retired Teachers Association, and League of Women Voters. He served as President of his previous church, Emanuel Covenant, and led that congregation through painful internal issues and a subsequent split. It was at that time that Ernest sought a new place of worship and in 1992, made Asbury First his spiritual home. There he became a beloved member of the congregation and the 50+Fellowship. Ernest was a music, theater, and arts enthusiast. He was a faithful patron of the Rochester Philharmonic and continued to attend concerts, even though his mobility was impaired, until 2017. He enjoyed the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus concerts, Opera, and GEVA productions. And his favorite singer? Tom Jones — “What’s New Pussycat, whoa, whoa, whoa!” Ernest’s calendar was always busy, and it’s no wonder. He had so many friends in many different social circles. He enjoyed eating out, whether it was Don and Bob’s, the Winfield, Rooney’s, or Grinnell’s. His lunch group was the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out), and dinner groups with names like The 4th Friday and the The 1st Wednesday. Secretly, there were those who thought these two names were the only way members knew when to meet. Ernest and his friends traveled to many places around the world: Peru, Brazil, China, Hawaii, Alaska, England, the Balkans, and Central Europe. Throughout his life, Ernest’s core foundation was grounded in integrity, commitment, love, and faith. We will discuss ‘slightly stubborn’ and ‘selective hearing’ in volume 82 of The Ernest Biography. To Ernest’s many wonderful friends and colleagues: you were there when he was in good health, you made adjustments to assist him as his mobility worsened, you came in droves to visit him in the hospital and at the Episcopal Church Home. ECH employees were certain that Ernest had more visitors than any other resident. Why was that? It was because Ernest was a loving person who cherished the people in his life. We will miss his physical presence; however, we know that he has touched our hearts, and earned our love and admiration. Ernest died on May 18, 2018. This was written by Ernest’s sister, Ann Smith and delivered as the eulogy at Ernest’s memorial service on July 31, 2018.
A small town named Ephrata, in the middle of the state of Washington, is the place where Jane grew up. At that time, there were about 1,000 people in the town. Her dad was a carpenter and contractor. After high school, she went to Walla Walla University, and majored in music. When Jane’s parents moved to Spokane, she transferred to Washington State for a year. Jane’s specialty was the piano, and she had been thinking about becoming a music teacher. During those years, an air base was built near Ephrata to assist with preparations for World War II. About 6,000 people were stationed on the base. Some of the wives of men at the base were able to join their husbands, and residents helped by renting space in their homes for the couples. Jane’s family had such a couple staying with them while she was in college. After her sophomore year was finished, Jane’s dad was supposed to drive to Walla Walla University to bring Jane home for the summer. But her dad was busy with work and asked the man who was staying in their home if he knew of a young man at the base who could drive their family car and pick her up. He did, and her parents sent a nice young man from the base, a total stranger named Vincent Pauly, to pick up Jane from Walla Walla University. They also sent Jane’s twelve-year-old sister to go on the trip with the young man, as some sort of chaperone. They drove to the university and brought Jane and two of her girlfriends back to Ephrata. About two weeks after Jane arrived home, Vincent asked her to go out to dinner with him. She did, and thus began a summer of dating, until Vincent was shipped out in September to Hawaii. Writing letters was the only way Jane and Vincent could communicate during his time in military service, and so they began a correspondence that lasted almost two years. Jane was finishing up her senior year in college when Vincent got out of the service in March. A friend of Vincent’s got him a job driving tour buses in Glacier Park, and they were able to see each other. After finally being together again, Vincent pulled out a calendar and said, “Let’s pick a date!” At that moment, Jane knew what her future was going to be, and they were married in September of 1946 in Spokane, Washington. They moved to St. Joe, Missouri, and both worked at Namo, a Christmas light company, until Vincent got hired in Kansas City by GM. He commuted for about eight years before being transferred to Indianapolis, then Rochester. Vincent went on ahead to Rochester, and Jane stayed back in Indianapolis for a while to sell their house. GM had put Vincent in a hotel on East Avenue and Alexander Street while he was waiting for Jane to join him in Rochester. Both he and Jane were Methodists, and Asbury happened to be the closest Methodist church to Vincent’s temporary location. They started going to the church and liked it very much. Jane loves music, and she loved the music at Asbury First. Jane’s spirituality is very connected to music. She joined the choir when Austin Truitt was the choir director, and she was still in the choir when Roger Wilhelm became the director. Jane and Vincent wanted children, but after waiting for ten years, they decided to adopt and were fortunate to be blessed with twin girls. Just two months later, Jane became pregnant, and they were blessed with a son. And then, ten years later, they were blessed with another daughter. Three of their four children live in the Rochester area and Jane is thankful for that. Jane has had so many good experiences at Asbury First over the years. Among her many activities, she was in the Altar Guild, worked at the Storehouse for a while as a receptionist, belonged to a church circle that met in the evening, and joined the Partnership Class after Vincent passed away. One of her favorite memories is the time Asbury First's choir and Third Presbyterian’s choir joined in presenting the last movement of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony. She loves hymns, and finds it hard to pick out a favorite, but especially likes the older ones.
Jane Pauly
Marylyn Calkins Soule
Jane Pauly (cont'd)
Marylyn Calkins Soule was born and grew up in Fulton, NY, a small city located on the Oswego River and part of the Erie Canal, between Syracuse and Oswego. She had many relatives in that area, and graduated from Fulton High School in 1951. She then went to Buffalo State College to study art, which included fine arts training at the Albright Art School. Later, she did graduate work in art at Syracuse University. After college, Marylyn was employed as an art teacher in public schools, working with all ages and grades. Her first teaching position was at Seneca Falls, NY, Elementary School. In later years, she worked with the Waterloo public schools until retirement. In addition to teaching, she is also a painter who exhibited and sold her work. She continues to enjoy visiting art galleries, a lifelong activity. At Buffalo State, Marylyn met her first husband, who was an artist and teacher, specializing in fine carving. Some of his work is on display at Cooperstown Farms Museum. He passed away in 1990. Following relocation to Waterloo, NY, Marylyn met John Soule* via meetings with the Waterloo Library Historical Society. He was a local banker and native of Waterloo. They shared many interests, including a love of travel. Marylyn is a world traveler who made many trips with children and spouse, and later with several friends, often teachers who collaborated on world travel arrangements. She traveled extensively in Europe and China. Travel is an ongoing activity, plus reading and following world events via NPR. Marylyn and her first husband raised two daughters and one son. One daughter lives in Penfield and she has two daughters also! In 2012, John and Marylyn decided to move from Waterloo to Webster, in order to be closer to family in the Rochester area. In 2013, the Soules (now married) began attending Asbury First; together, they made many friends. Sadly, John died in 2018. Marylyn especially liked the many programs of Asbury First that connect with the greater community to help others of all ages. She grew up attending State Street Methodist Church in Fulton, and feels a lifelong background of Methodist tradition. In final comments, Marylyn stated “Asbury takes all in their arms and makes them feel secure and welcome.” *If you are wondering about a connection of this name to the name of our 1050 East Ave. building, The Soule House, the answer is yes. John Soule was a distant cousin of the man who purchased the house from George Eastman (or was it the other way round?)
Bill & Maxine Lisi (cont'd)
Bill grew up in Geneva, NY. He had very little exposure to church; his family attended only on holidays. Maxine grew up in Stafford, NY, outside of Batavia, in a very strict Methodist family. There was always a copy of The Upper Room open on the table and the family read it together each day. Maxine had seven brothers and one sister. (*1&2) Maxine went to college at William Smith and after graduation became the head buyer for women’s fashion for a large department store in Buffalo. Two years later she left to get her Master’s degree in teaching at Cornell. It was at Cornell that Bill and Maxine met. He thought her the most beautiful girl he had seen, but he didn’t ask her out until the day before the semester ended. Bill was not allowed to pick her up on Sundays while they were dating. In spite of a practical joke (*3) played on Bill on his first date with Maxine, they continued dating, and when Bill declared his feelings and intentions, Maxine said she felt the same but told him there was one condition to their marrying: “You have to start going to church.” Bill came to Rochester because he really wanted to work with disabled children. There were few such opportunities in Lyons where he was teaching. Through a fellow soccer referee, Bill was connected to a job as a physical education teacher in Rochester’s School #5 where he had the opportunity to work with orthopedically handicapped students. Maxine initially taught in Arkport. She moved to Rochester when Bill got his teaching job there. Her first job was as a Home Economics teacher in Penfield, but she left to have children and did not return until the youngest was in first grade. Following that she taught Home Economics and Art at Monroe High School. She had a number of students in her classes from Hillside Children’s Center. After hearing glowing reports about Maxine, Hillside recruited her, and she taught there for fifteen years before moving to East High School. It was there that her teaching career ended, as she retired. Bill says that he thinks his spiritual journey began when he walked out of church with Maxine as his wife. Maybe it started before that! His experiences in the Marines caused him to think more deeply about God and about what he believed. Questions were raised in his mind: how can people live in deplorable conditions? How can a soldier give his life and then be dumped over the side of a ship? Where was God? Where was honor? One Sunday while Bill and Maxine were attending a different church (*5), they saw a notice in that church bulletin about a trip to Jerusalem being offered by Asbury First, and they were drawn to attend the informational meeting. Following that, they decided to retire and take the trip! They ended up loving the people they met and, as they say, the rest is history. Maxine and Bill raised two daughters and two sons and have six grandchildren. Interestingly, all four of their children ended up teaching and working with disabled children. Bill says his family has always given him great support. Whenever he got excited about a new outreach project, Maxine would say “Go for it!” His children have cheered him on as well. One summer, Bill helped out a man on the street and they had a conversation. This led Bill to the Open Door Mission where he waited on tables and asked lots of questions of those he met. Ideas for the Dining and Caring Center started to percolate and he talked them over with Rand Warner and Reverend Margie Mayson - she gave them the green light to pursue it further. The planning for the Dining Center took a year and a half, and many people inside and outside Asbury First helped bring it to life. Once initiated, opportunities just kept popping up and everyone’s enthusiasm and generosity were contagious. It was scripture in action: ask and you shall receive; knock and the door will be opened. Whether the request was for food donations, job services (interview and resume skills, job opportunities, transportation), bicycles, furniture, computers, personal grooming services, or for volunteers of all sorts (e.g.: cooks, servers, teachers, beauticians, listeners, fund-raisers), people within and outside of the Asbury First community stepped up to respond. It seemed miraculous at times. It was hard work and long hours, but it was generative, rewarding, and spiritually fulfilling. Seven times Bill has accompanied Dr. Jerry Svoboda on medical missions to the Dominican Republic, another way in which his spirituality deepened. Not being medically trained, Bill usually pitched in wherever he could. On one trip, Bill was needed to assist in the birth of a baby; he remembers his delight when the new baby was placed in his hands.(*4) Maxine’s spirituality was shaped by wonderful pastors along the way, most especially the minister who married her to Bill, along with Reverend Susan Shafer, and Reverend Ted Weeden. She met Ted on the trip to Jerusalem and they had an immediate bond when they realized that Maxine had known his son when he was at Hobart and she was at William Smith. Maxine had a strong faith background and her steadfast expression of her faith has always been an inspiration to Bill. Together they ushered, served on the Communion Committee, trained as Stephen Ministers, and attended the Partnership Sunday School class. Both were nurtured by the fellowship offered by their Covenant Discipleship Group. Maxine always loved playing tennis and bridge in her free time. She volunteered at the RMSC where she became interested in Native American culture and developed a program for school children. She was very active at Asbury First, participating on her own in Women on Wednesdays and a Hospitality Team. She baked pies and cookies for the Dining and Caring Center and knitted hats and mittens for the Storehouse all year round. Maxine organized plays for the Sunday School and was the writer/director of a play given at a church retreat at Watson Homestead. Eleven years ago, Maxine was diagnosed with early stage dementia. For a number of years she went to a clinic every week, but several years ago, Maxine’s dementia advanced to the point that the doctor recommended a long term care environment. Bill visited her regularly, arriving in Maxine’s room before lunch every day. He helped feed her and sat with her until the dinner hour. She did not necessarily recognize him, but she knew his voice and his presence. In his care for Maxine, Bill lived the words of a hymn beloved by many: Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. Maxine passed away in 2022. Addendum: Stories Bill told. *1: (Because her sister was born on Maxine’s high school graduation day, Maxine would joke that she was mad at her for that.) *2: (After being nominated to be the Potato Queen of New York State, she later became the Queen of the NYS Fair.) *3: (On their first date, he borrowed a friend’s car and took Maxine for dinner at the Ithaca Country Club. Bill’s friend played a practical joke on him by reporting the car stolen. Dinner was interrupted by the police and Bill was taken to the station.) *4: (On one trip to the Dominican Republic, a number of medical workers were delayed in Florida by a huge storm and Bill was drafted to insert IVs and even assist with a C-section! ) *5: (They were attending United Church of Pittsford, made up of American Baptists and United Methodists. Each denomination sat on a side of the aisle. When they visited Asbury First, Bill asked, Where do the Methodists sit? Response: Anywhere they want to!)
Bill & Maxine Lisi
Rowena & Mason Fitch
How did a woman named Rowena come to be called Ginn? The name came from her future husband’s friend, as Rowena’s maiden name is McGinnis, which the friend shortened to ‘Ginn.’ Rowena McGinnis was born in Rochester and at the age of eighteen months, her father died. With her mother, she moved to Prattsburgh to live with her grandparents. Eventually, Ginn moved back to Rochester and attended Rochester Business Institute and became a medical secretary. Mason Fitch was born into a nice family whose home was on Penfield Road. His mother’s grandfather attended the ‘old’ Asbury Church on East Ave., west of the present location. He says the summer of 1943 was a significant time in his life. He started his first job, received his Eagle Scout award, and took (and passed) a test which qualified him to enter the Air Force on a voluntary basis when he was drafted. He was discharged from the Air Force (after 35 missions) and wanted to become a forester; he changed his mind and attended Mechanics Institute (currently named Rochester Institute of Technology), and started working at Rochester Products. One reason for the change of mind: One of the doctors for whom Ginn worked cautioned her that if she married a forester, she would be living in a fire tower in the middle of a forest. That did not appeal to Ginn! Ginn and Mason met when both attended a group called ‘the Friday Nighters’ at Asbury First. The group met in the room now called the Red Room in 1010, and square dancing was a favorite activity. Dr. Crossland, the pastor, allowed the dancing, as long as the drapes were closed so the dancing was not visible to those passing by on East Avenue. Jean* Rosequist Howlett and her brother Johnny Rosequist attended these gatherings, and when Mason expressed interest in Ginn, Johnny suggested that he ask her to dance. Mason hesitated, and Johnny said, If you don’t ask her, I will! Mason hurried over to Ginn, and as they say, the rest is history. Ginn often provided Orange Crush for the Friday Nighters. Jean’s* husband Charlie and his brother Eugene Howlett both met their mates at the gatherings. Small groups were being formed, and in January 1949 one was composed of many of the Friday Nighters. The only remaining founding member is Ralph Zimmer. Ginn and Mason were not allowed to join the class because they were not yet married! So after June 26, 1949, the newlywed Fitches were able to join their friends in the Partnership Class. They recently returned to the site of the original Asbury Methodist Church, where they were married, to have a picture taken in front of the church, honoring their 70th wedding anniversary! Since joining the Partnership Class, the Fitches have had many different responsibilities within the class, including being leaders several times. In addition, Ginn has been involved in several different organizations within Asbury First. She has been involved with Childrens’ Ministry, Altar Guild (with Nancy Adamus’ mother and Shirley Baker), Roudebush Circle (with Margaret Sparks, Gerry Peath, Marge Warner, and MANY others), 44 Chapter, Circles, Women’s Society, UMW, Dining and Caring Center, Church Office, Memorials Committee, Nursery School (with Jane Weeden), and reunions of the Class - the list could go on and on! Mason was also involved at Asbury First, as co-president of Partnership Class multiple times, working on the Grocery Bag Ministry with Bill Lisi, and serving on the Administrative Board, and Nominating Committee. He also aided in Pastoral Searches, worked on the Strawberry Festival, which the Partnership Class organized for 40 years, and was chair of the Antique Sale, held outdoors on church grounds. A favorite memory was working on the Hot Dog concession, cooking and selling. Arnie and Betty Reisen helped with advertising. The Partnership Class took trips to Toronto, Canada and Letchworth State Park, as well as bus trips to Chatauqua, NY. Two daughters, Linda and Patty, joined the family and attended Indian Landing School and then Penfield High School. Both are married and the Fitches now have many grandchildren and great-grandchildren!
Ted and Peggy Epping
It was a beautiful September day, and the 50+ Fellowship was enjoying a ride on the Colonial Belle, going from Fairport to Lock 32 in Pittsford. It was on this day that Ted Epping told his story to this writer. In 1944, Ted was in the Navy, on a destroyer escort, taking a convoy of 300 ships from Virginia to the Mediterranean. At nine knots, the trip took three weeks. He was center front, leading the convoy to Tunis, Palermo, Sicily. After D-Day, it was back to drydock, where the ship was cleaned. The ships traveled from Brun to the Panama Canal, where they lined up two by two by two, and started through the canal late at night. Ted did night watch. The ships went to Galapagos, then Bora Bora, then Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, and Hollandia, in New Guinea. That was the base for the 5th Fleet, and it sailed from there for the rest of the war, from 1944 to late 1945 when the war ended. Riding this day on the Erie Canal, Ted is reminded of ALL the canals he has been on, many with his wife Peggy: Suez Canal, Burgundy Canal in France, and many others: too many to name! He and Peggy started taking cruises in 1968 and have gone on 100 cruises as of July 2022. Ted was invited to fly to New Orleans on a VALOR FLIGHT. The actor Gary Sinise is head of a foundation that has built a museum honoring WWII, and Ted wanted to be there for the festivities. In 2020, the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima was to be recognized. Unfortunately, Ted was not able to go. Ted grew up in Rochester near Highland Ave. Peggy was born in Rochester, and grew up on Windsor St. across from Eastman Theater. They both tell the same story of their meeting at a coffee shop. Each had been married previously, and Ted had opened his architectural office in the Powers Building. Peggy worked in the coffee shop at Main and State Streets, and Ted would come into the shop and sit and watch Peggy as she worked. They knew each other for seven years before they started dating. After four months, they decided to get married, and went to a Methodist church in Sayre, PA for the ceremony. On June 20, 2022, they celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. Grace and George Gillette had taken Peggy, her father and her stepmother to Asbury First in 1942, and they liked the church. (Peggy’s mother had been killed in an auto accident when Peggy was ten years old.) Helen, Peggy's stepmother, was a good Methodist woman, who raised Peggy well. Her father was Baptist. Ted was Lutheran, and the newlywed couple wanted a ‘neutral’ church for themselves. So when the Eppings were back in Rochester, they started going to Asbury First. They first lived on Brooks Ave. Ted designed their next home, overlooking Irondequoit Bay through four walls of windows, where they lived for ten years. For 43 years they have lived in their current home. Any children? Yes; Ted had two daughters, Peggy had three children. Together they have one daughter, Patty. When Ted adopted Peggy’s children, Patty cried because Ted was not adopting her; she had been born to the couple! With her mother, Peggy had attended the Congregational Church, and at a very early age she learned the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 23. Her favorite hymns are O Holy Night, Onward Christian Soldiers, and Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory. Both Ted and Peggy remember friends from the 50/50 Class, which started in 1943, and the Eppings joined in 1961. At the beginning, it was mostly women, as the husbands were in the service. Once a month they met for luncheons and money raising. Jane and Don Carson took the Eppings under their wing; Andy Jackson (father of Charlie) told them about the class. Some other members were Dick and Joyce Clement, Tom and June Morin, Bernie and Jack Meyers, John and Kay Arnold, Yolanda and Ken DeLorm, Wiley and Elvah Robson. Mr. Clifford was a paid teacher of the class, and Jim Estrich was the treasurer, followed by Ted, and then Carl Talbot. Altar Guild, Roudebush Circle, and Church Council are activities in which Peggy participated, including being president of two of them, and Ted was on Church Council for four years. Travel is important to the Eppings, and have taken all nineteen family members (now grown to nine grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren)on a few of their many trips. When asked to name ways in which the church is important to them, they both respond that they wouldn’t want to go to any other church. They liked Stephen Cady because he tells it like it is, and they also name Bob Hill and Susan Shafer as being important reasons for attending Asbury First. And, comments Peggy, the church is welcoming, and comfortable, and combining the 50/50 class with the Fellowship class into the 50+Fellowship was an easy transition, with both classes benefitting. Ted died weeks short of his 100th birthday in 2023. Peggy died less than a year later in 2024.
Rowena & Mason Fitch (cont'd)
Ted and Peggy Epping (cont'd)
Visiting Val Van Bortle at the Atria facility where she was living in 2019 was a real treat. With myself and a longtime friend of hers as observers, Val demonstrated that she indeed is limber, and could easily manage the stairs at her home. To prove it, she laid flat on her bed and raised one leg at a time to a 90º angle! It was after the friend left that she began to talk, and as she talked, I was storing the information in my head. Val had originally said NO to the person who asked if she would like to be interviewed; I was not going to accept that answer. Val was born in Michigan and attended the Episcopal Church as a child. Bill, who became her husband, was in the service when they met at a USO dance; they dated; they fell in love. (All this after her mother told her she could not go to the USO dances!) Bill was sent to Okinawa in WWll and they married after he came home. They moved to Rochester and became parents to four children: Todd, Scott, Jill, and Brad. Scott has two children, lives in the Rochester area and helped Val a lot. Brad also lives in Rochester. Daughter Jill and son Todd are deceased. After a fall at her beloved home, a hospital stay, and transfers to various facilities, Val passed away in 2021. She often said she would rather be at home and missed her little dog Muggins. Scott often brought the dog to visit. She was a dear, and was a faithful member of the 50+Fellowship. Over the years, she often took responsibility for table decorations at many of the dinners enjoyed by that Sunday School class. Val had great faith in God and when she heard beautiful music, was often moved to tears, even in childhood. She enjoyed having visitors and loved to reminisce. Her one sister lives in AZ. Val, at age 96, said she and her sister, then age 98, would like to go to Heaven together; Val did not figure out how to make that happen.
Val Van Bortle
Warren Doerrer (cont'd)
Warren Doerrer was the much loved only child of Bernice and George Doerrer. His parents were members of Asbury before he was born, and Warren became a lifelong member of Asbury First. The family lived in the Browncroft Boulevard and Winton Road area of Rochester and Warren graduated from Monroe High School. While a teen, he had the experience of working at Kodak and at the family business. Warren’s father owned a jewelry store and Warren started working there on weekends when he was around thirteen or fourteen years of age. After Warren graduated from high school he took some college courses, but he had to curtail that part of his life when his father had health problems and needed Warren to help more at the store. His dad passed away in 1963 and Warren took over the jewelry business and worked hard at the store for many long years. From a young age, Warren was an active member of Asbury First and he enjoyed the Sunday night Fellowship. As he got older, he attended a singles social and met his future wife. Carol was in Rochester temporarily because her dad, who was a bridge engineer, was working on a local project. She was attending Ohio Wesleyan at the time and she and Warren carried on their relationship with lots of letters. They got married in September of 1956. Carol and Warren had three children born during the 1960s: Craig, Kim, and Karen. After the children reached their teen years, the family traveled a lot. A favorite place was Sanibel Island, located off the west coast of southern Florida. They gathered there for at least 30 years, with each family member having their own place when they were older. Warren was a very generous man to his family, his church, and other causes. Asbury First was very important to Warren and he found great inspiration there for his spiritual life. He and Carol loved being proud members of the Doubler’s Class and were part of a tight band of caring people who knew they could count on each other. The class members would have gatherings with their whole families at times, and Warren’s children have fond memories of those occasions, such as Fourth of July celebrations. Warren was a people-person and had good friends from high school that he and Carol socialized with, in addition to their Doubler’s friends. He loved going to the theater, musicals, concerts and movies, in addition to traveling. He enjoyed the Asbury First trip to Italy. During his lifetime, Warren’s church activities included being an usher for a long time, serving a long time on the Memorials Committee, enjoying being a part of the Men’s Chorus, and volunteering at the Dining and Caring Center in his later years. Warren passed away in 2019.
Warren Doerrer
As of this writing in 2020, Ann and Herb Englehardt had been married for 73 years. And they have been involved with Asbury First for most of that time. Ann’s parents were attending Asbury at the time of Ann’s birth, and so were her widowed grandmother and aunts, who lived in the Rochester area. Ann grew up in Brighton and met her husband in high school. After five years of friendship, Herb and Ann were married at Colgate Divinity School and then had their wedding reception in 1010 at Asbury First. Ann and Herb had three children: two sons and one daughter who sang in the children’s choir and attended Methodist Youth Fellowship. Their sons served as acolytes. They also have eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Three of their great grandchildren have been baptized at Asbury First.Being with the family they love so much is a great joy to Ann and Herb. For part of her life, Ann used to work for a medical motor service driving cancer patients to their treatments. Many activities at Asbury First have been a part of their lives and have influenced their spirituality. They have been working members of the Partnership Class, whose members still meet for lunch monthly, although the formal class meetings on Sundays have ended. Ann volunteered at the Storehouse for years, was a part of the Altar Guild and taught acolytes, and assisted with the Strawberry Festivals and the Antique Sales. The music at Asbury First was a very meaningful part of the service for Ann. Her parents loved to sing, and this was a big influence on Ann’s enjoyment of the music. Some of the hymns that Ann and Herb loved are Christmas carols, Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, and Just A Closer Walk With Thee. Some favored scripture includes Psalm 23, the Lord’s Prayer, and “The Lord bless you and keep you” from the Book of Numbers in the Bible. The Englehardt’s daughter, Lynn Beatty, and her husband, Larry, were married at Asbury First on Herb and Ann's 33rd wedding anniversary by Reverend Paul Fattaruso. Mr. MacGregor was the florist for Ann and Herb’s wedding and also for Lynn's wedding. After living in their home for 66 years, Ann and Herb moved in 2019 to St. John Meadows. Herb and Ann both passed away in 2020.
Ann & Herb Englehardt