Bom-Wrapper

Harold Pederson-Rambo
In Memory of
Harold Merle
Pederson-Rambo
1928 -
2018

Obituary for Harold Merle Pederson-Rambo

Harold Pederson-Rambo was born 2/24/1928 in Wellsville, New York to Mazie and Harold Rambo, Sr. He died in Oklahoma City on June 29, 2018 surrounded by family. Harold is survived by his wife, Morna Pederson-Rambo, and their daughters Ana and Mia Pederson-Rambo, and Mia’s husband Adam Parrish, all of Oklahoma City. Harold is also survived by his daughter Marjorie Mattson and her husband Jim, Portland, OR, his son James Rambo, Bismarck, ND, his son John Rambo and his wife Becky, Wabash, IN, his daughter Judith Tschider and her husband Ivan, Bismarck, ND and his son Jeffery Rambo and his wife Leslee, Cedar Rapids, IA, 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, his sister Velma Merrick, Muncy, PA, his sister Ruth Rambo-Brown, Willits, CA, and his sister-in-law, Patricia Rambo, Williamsport, PA.

Harold grew up primarily in Pennsylvania and graduated from Irvona, PA high school. He attended Nyack Missionary Training Institute in Nyack, NY. He married his first wife, Julia Wright, after they met at Nyack. They raised five beloved children together.

After working in a Presbyterian mission in West Virginia he attended Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity. He served parishes in Colorado and North Dakota as a Presbyterian minister. During his time in North Dakota, he joined the naval reserves as a chaplain and commanding officer, and served for over 20 years in that capacity in North Dakota and Oklahoma.

In 1980, Harold and Morna moved to Oklahoma City for him to go through chaplaincy training. He worked as a chaplain at Presbyterian Hospital, Positive Horizons, Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, and Mercy Hospital. He served as an interim pastor and pulpit supply for various congregations in Oklahoma. Most recently, he and Morna have enjoyed attending services at Trinity Presbyterian in Oklahoma City and First Presbyterian in Davenport.

Throughout his life Harold drew upon perspectives gained from many types of work. He fondly reflected on his work in a grocery store as a youth, factory work, teaching High School English and coaching debate.

Harold engaged others, always interested in their lives, and creating a sense that all were valued. His humor was a delight to all but truly a special connection to young children.

Harold had a lifelong appreciation for music. He could play by ear and beautifully. He often hummed a song. He would remark that if there were a second life, he’d come back as a jazz musician. He enjoyed walks in the woods and finding beautiful pieces of nature, and thrift store ‘sifting’, transforming things he found into something useful or decorative. He loved his cats and dog, who spent many hours on his lap or near his feet and brought him joy and peace. He gardened and grew a beautiful garden of tigerlilys most recently.

Services are planned in Oklahoma City on July 21, 2018, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2301 NE 23rd Street. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Positive Tomorrows, a school supporting children and families living without secure housing. https://www.positivetomorrows.org/donate-form/

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