WATERLOO, Iowa—Bertha Moore, pastor emeritus’s wife at Walnut Ridge Baptist Church, died July 26. She was 83.
Bertha married her high school sweetheart, David, on June 14, 1952. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at Friendship Village in Waterloo, a retirement living center where they resided.
Bertha supported David in ministry roles at First Christian Church, Binghamton, N.Y., from 1952 to 1956, and Walnut Ridge Baptist Church (formerly Walnut Street Baptist Church), Waterloo, Iowa, from 1956 until 1974. They then served at Cedar Hill Baptist Church and Bethlehem Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, until 1998, when they returned to Walnut Ridge Baptist Church. Previously pastor of the church, he returned to be pastor emeritus in semiretirement.
Bertha had a deep and consistent love for her Lord, and was a humble and disciplined student of Scripture and servant of others. Her relationship with Christ was lived out in a wonderful marriage and home life that impacted not only her family but many others. She taught Sunday School and Bible studies, sang in church choirs, served as a deaconess, and mentored younger women. She also exercised a tremendous gift for hospitality that welcomed scores of missionaries, youth, and others into her home, which served as a place of warmth, security, refreshment, and respite for many.
Bertha would not have wanted to be praised or singled out for her life or its impact, but her consistent, faithful, and loving example of a life lived knowing, trusting, and honoring God has left an immeasurable and eternal imprint on her family and many others with whom her earthly path crossed. Of her it could truly be said that to live was Christ, and to die, gain (Philippians 1:21).
She is survived, along with David, by her children, Suzanne Oettel, Elaine Mellinger, Christine Hlad, Grace MacKeverican, and Timothy Moore; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three siblings, Ernest Monasky, Richard Monasky, and Helen Fishback.
