Gwen Detamore Wiser (1929 to 2013)

My Aunt Gwen died recently just short of her 84th birthday. Besides her husband, she leaves a sister, two daughters, four grandchildren, and several great-grand kids. The world is somehow dimmer without Aunt Gwen.

In the print version of a dictionary you can find Gwen as a synonym used for two words: vivacious and upbeat. She was a dynamo who had traveled the world with her missionary parents, as evidenced by this wonderful photo taken 1936. She was SIX MONTHS OLD and would soon live in China. I love this photo! See her parents' eager faces? Ready to take on the world. Are you familiar with the political turmoil in China in the late 1930s? What a time.

I also found five-year old Gwendolyn on a United Kingdom immigration database, in May of 1935, sailing on a ship called Hamburg to New York, from Southampton, England. Knowing her, I bet little Gwen had fun running up and down the ship.

Gwen adored her father and spoke of him often. Here's Mr. Detamore's obit found online from The Atlantic Union Gleaner published June 24, 1980:

Thank you for popping by. I welcome your comments.

11 responses

Hello, thank you for this post. I am writing an article on Fordyce Detamore for the Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, and am trying to find the birth days/years of his daughters. I see Gwen is 1929-2013. Would you be willing to share the dates with me? Also maybe you have dates for Arlene Dever and Kathleen Smith as well. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Greg Hudson Pastor, Georgia-Cumberland Academy Adventist Church

— Greg Hudson

Good morning, Greg! A granddaughter of F.D. tells me Kathleen is very much alive. But Arlene passed in 2008. (1932-2008) I've her obit from the Chattanooga Times Free-Press, published July 16, 2008: Arlene Detamore Dever, 75, died Sunday evening, July 6, 2008 at Parkridge Medical Center. Her father was an evangelist and missionary for the Voice of Prophecy. She traveled with her parents through numerous countries as well as the United States. She authored a book entitled "Gods Living Dynamo" as a tribute to her father. She was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, a retired school teacher with 27 years teaching, 16 of those at the Seventh-Day Adventist School in Dunlap where her life's focus and ministry was teaching children. She is survived by her husband, Homer Dever. (I've omitted remaining family names/locations) A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. CDT on Friday, at the Cupbearer Ministry Church on Highway 28 South in Dunlap. All former students are invited to attend to express their memories of her. Visitation will be on Friday, at the church from 4-6 p.m. CDT. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Voice of Prophecy, P.O. Box 53055, Los Angeles, Ca. 90099-5282. Need further? --Sandy

— History Sleuth

Postscript to G.Hudson: http://treepig.posthaven.com/for-holly

This is Fordyce Detamore's grand daughter, Lois. Gwen's youngest daughter. Aunt Kathy was born in Glendale, CA, 1942 and still lives in Oregon.

— Lois Peifer

Thanks so much!

6 visitors upvoted this post.