March 18 Today in OPC History

Born one hundred years ago on this date in 1922, Roverta (Bobbi) Johnson had a difficult childhood, losing her mother at age five. As a young adult she worked two jobs in Seattle: for Boeing aircraft during the day, as a USO hostess at night. After WWII, Bobbi married Denny Olinger and moved to southern California. One Sunday morning, Bobbi decided to visit the little church on her street, First OPC of Long Beach. There she heard the gospel from Pastor Henry Coray and found a church home.

By 1951, the Olingers had moved to La Mirada, and Bobbi talked to Pastor Coray about having an OPC church there. Coray led a Bible study at the Olinger home to explore the possibility, and three people showed up. Bobbi Olinger, however, did not give up, and in 1958 Calvary OPC, La Mirada was established with Dwight Poundstone as pastor.

It was at Calvary Church that Bobbi Olinger endlessly promoted OPC missions. Bobbi compiled binders on each missionary family for the Sunday School classrooms. She gave weekly presentations, and wrote skits about missionary families for the children to perform. She collected used postal stamps so that they could be sold to fund Missions projects. Bobbi eventually gave "missions" talks in other churches and at Presbyterial, starting a monthly Missions Workshop.

Bobbi suffered from cancer, and was widowed while raising her teenaged sons, yet she continued to serve the church. She hosted missionaries on furlough, Presbytery commissioners, and any others who need a place to stay.

"Why me?" The words flew out of Bobbi Olinger's mouth when told that she was going to be included in a book about the Women of the OPC.

"Partly because you were known as The Missionary Lady. And The Stamp Lady."

"Well," Bobbi said, "be sure to tell them it wasn't me. It was all the Lord."

Bobbi went to be with the Lord in glory on May 20, 2016, at the age of 94.

Home Page Picture: Bobbi Olinger in 2012

Picture: Bobbi Olinger in Ethopian dress.