Rev. Rob Davidson passed away this week after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. Rob had served faithfully as our Deacon and retired just over a year ago.
Rob joined the staff at St. Paul’s on the first Sunday of Advent in 2010. This was the beginning of a dream for Rob after a long and distinguished career outside of the church. After college at Lehigh University and two years as an officer in the Army infantry, he started as a sales representative for IBM, then set up his own computer consulting company. He met his wife of 45 years during his first year at IBM. Rob’s journey to ordained ministry included service as a Sunday school teacher, lector, chalice bearer, EFM graduate, vestry member, prison volunteer, Diocesan stewardship chair, and parish Verger.
He completed his Master of Divinity degree at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) in 2008. As a seminarian he served at the Philadelphia Cathedral, St. James Downingtown, and Calvary-St. Augustine in West Philadelphia. He said that one of the greatest days in his life was June 6, 2009 when he was ordained to the sacred order of Deacons by Bishop Edward Lee. He was a member of the Diocesan Stewardship Committee, the Episcopal representative on the LTSP alumni board, board member of the non-profit serving the Belmont community in West Philadelphia, member of the Association for Episcopal Deacons, and ECAP (Episcopal Clergy Association of Pennsylvania). He made his Cursillo weekend in October of 2008.
At St. Paul’s, Rob served as a consultant to the Stewardship Committee, a part of the Pastoral Care Team (completing Stephen Ministry Training in 2011), as well as the Welcoming and Worship Committees. He was fond of sung liturgy, Evensong, preaching, and all parish gatherings. He was also known for his wicked sense of humor and continued serving faithfully and without complaining even when his health was in slow decline and threatened to hinder him from carrying out his charge as a deacon. In 2019, he retired from his service at St. Paul’s and moved to Riddle Village in Media and then back to North Wales. He is survived by his wife, Pam, four grown sons, and five grandchildren. If you would like to send a note or card to Pam, her address is: 18 Springhouse Lane, Blue Bill PA 19422. Funeral arrangements are still being made and will be held at St. Thomas Whitemarsh, Rob's original sending parish where he went through the discernment process for the ordained ministry.
Albert Ogle