In remembrance of Reverend Bob Ferguson.
Harold Schelling
Wednesday, Jun 19, 2019
Bob was born September 4, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan to a devout Catholic family.
At the age of twelve Bob was sent to St. Anthony High School in San Antonio, Texas to prepare him for a life for the priesthood.
He would later attend Oblate School of Theology, which was also in San Antonio and after graduating from Oblate--Bob was sent to Rome to study at The Pontifical Gregorian University where he received two masters degrees and during his time in Europe he served as a civilian Chaplin working for the U.S. Air Force in Germany.
Upon hearing of a faculty opening, due to the death of a faculty member at Oblate—Bob was called back to return to his Alma mater to teach and later become academic Dean at Oblate University. At Oblate Bob would later start a movement of bringing students of other Christian faiths to the college and started-up a night school for the college allowing people who worked during the day to attend the university.
In 1979, while attending summer courses at Princeton (PCA USA) Seminary, in New Jersey, Bob met Margaret “Peg” Schelling who was studying to become a Presbyterian Minister with whom he would later fall in love with, marry and would leave the priesthood and start a new life with Peg and her two sons Hal and Tom in Baltimore, Maryland.
In 1981 Bob and his new family would move to Swarthmore, Pennsylvania where he taught classes at Temple University and would study with his wife Peg to become accredited interim pastors.
Later Bob and Peg would move back to Maryland where Bob would become pastor at Darlington Presbyterian Church where he also was the chaplain of the volunteer Fire Department—which he took great pride in being a part of.
As an interim pastor at the Presbyterian Church of Hagerstown, Maryland--Bob had his own weekly radio program.
When Bob and Peg moved to Massachusetts--Bob would become interim Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Worcester.
In 2012, after fifty-five years in the ministry, Bob would move to Katy, Texas with Peg to live closer to their son Hal where they all became part of the New Hope Presbyterian Church.
Bob is survived by his wife the Reverend, Margaret “Peg” Ferguson, step sons Harold Schelling, Thomas Schelling, sisters Lynelle Bloink, Cheryl Ferguson- Mustonen Reed, and Michelle Botto, his nieces Tracey Mustonen-Coykendall, Michelle Mustonen Heinig, Robert Bloink, Robin Zimmerman, Jim Bloink, Dawn Bloink, Nicole Wahlgren, and Jeff Kipp.
Step-grand children: Alexander Thomas Schelling and Vivian Jade Schelling
Information provided by Harold Schelling (Bob Ferguson’s stepson)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlSC-UUZF3U&t=346s
