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September 15 Today in OPC History

Betty Oliver

2022

 

Betty Oliver, who served for many years in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church’s Administrative Offices in Philadelphia, was born on this day in 1915. She married LeRoy Oliver two days before Christmas in 1938. The following year, Roy graduated from Wheaton College and by 1943 completed two degrees at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. They adopted two children, Jane and David, both of whom died suddenly from congenital problems in 1977. Jane’s son Van Allen Newman is their sole survivor.

From 1943 to 1961, Betty was a pastor’s wife in OP churches in Middletown, Delaware, Harrisville, Pennsylvania, and Fairlawn, New Jersey. She worked at the Administrative Offices known as “7401” while Roy served as associate and general secretary of Home Missions from 1956 to 1974 and at WTS until 1989.

Betty served as an executive secretary and administrative assistant in Christian Education and as office manager for Great Commission Publications. Shortly before her retirement, “7401” was coming into the computer age. Only one computer was bought and placed on Betty’s desk. She caught on so quickly, she shamed the rest of the office into getting computers, recalled former CCE general secretary Roger Schmurr.

Betty was described as a hard worker, honest, sincere, and loving. A New Horizons memoriam stated, “When people wanted to know what was really going on in the OPC, they would come to her…. Betty will be remembered for her cheerful spirit and hospitality.”

The late Tom Patete, former executive director of GCP, wrote of Betty: “Betty Oliver was one of those classic administrative assistants who performs more tasks than one can count and is the glue that keeps things together behind the scene…. After Betty retired in 1989, it took at least two people to replace her.” CCE President Charles Schauffele read a resolution of appreciation to the 53rd General Assembly for Betty’s years of faithful service to the committee; she received a standing ovation.

An active member at Trinity OPC in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, Betty entered her eternal rest in 2004, four years after Roy died.

 

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