In Memory of . . . Arthur D. Wilmot (1937-2013)

The  Rev. Arthur Dean Wilmot died on August 6, 2013, at the age of 75. Rev. Wilmot was born in Port Angeles, Washington to Dean Arthur and Evelyn Cecil (Getty) Wilmot, on August 17, 1937.  He graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959.  In 1962, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Tufts University.

Ordained by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Chico, CA on February 17, 1963, Rev. Wilmot served that congregation for six years until 1968.  Following his ministry at Chico, he moved to Victoria, B.C. Canada, where he served the First Unitarian Church of Victoria until 1971. He then served as a Community Minister at the Narcotic Addiction Fellowship. Rev. Wilmot returned to parish ministry at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis, OR in 1979 where he served until 1996, with the exception of a brief period at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Binghamton, NY. Upon his retirement from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis, he was honored with the title of Minister Emeritus.

Throughout his life, Rev. Wilmot was devoted to a belief in the worth and equality of all people and strove to make this a reality in everyone’s life. Active in the civil rights movement, he was involved with the march in Selma, Alabama, as well as promoting voter registration in Mississippi. Rev. Wilmot was particularly honored to meet the Reverends Martin Luther King Jr. and C.T. Vivian during these efforts.

 

Rev. Wilmot was an advocate for peace and justice throughout his lifetime. He worked for equal rights for women and against the nuclear arms race. He supported each person’s right to seek his/her own truth and actively opposed the hatred underlying anti-Semitism, racism, and sexism. 

Rev. Wilmot is survived by his wife of 38 years, Heather Stevens and his three children, Pamela Condick, Deana McNee and Jon Wilmot. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grand children.

A memorial service for Rev. Wilmot was held on September 15th, 2013 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Heather Wilmot, c/o Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis, 2945 Northwest Circle Boulevard, Corvallis, OR 97330.

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