Bob and Carrol Grady 60th

GRADY 60th

Bob and Carrol Grady celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a large family reunion at Sunset Lake Camp in Wilkeson, Wash., and a few weeks later with a reception on Sept. 17, 2016, at Bellevue Church, during which they renewed their wedding vows.

Bob Grady and Carrol McBroom met at La Sierra College in January 1955. Professor John Hamilton played matchmaker by suggesting Bob ask Carrol to accompany him for his voice practice. That summer Bob talked Carrol into being a colporteur under his student leadership. At the end of the summer, he asked her to marry him. They were married Aug. 26, 1956.

A theology major, Bob began his pastoral ministry in Southeast California Conference, spending the summer at Idyllwild Junior Camp and then in evangelism in Ontario and with Phil Knoche, the conference evangelist, in Orange and Banning. Then it was off to the Adventist Seminary in Takoma Park, Md.

A bad bout of flu precipitated their return to California to serve as first youth pastor in La Sierra College Church for three years before Bob finished his master's at the seminary, which by then had moved to Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich. They returned to the California high desert to pastor and build a new church in Victorville.

Five years later were called to the Hawaiian Mission to be Sabbath School, lay activities and public relations director. During these years, their three sons were born.

Bob’s next assignment was in Singapore, where he served as Sabbath School and lay activities director for the Southeast Asia Union Mission for six years and Sabbath School director for the Far Eastern Division for nine years, after which he went to the General Conference to be Sabbath School director in the church ministries department for five years.

This was followed by two years in Lincoln, Neb., as vice president for development at Christian Record Services to the Blind and six years as trust director of the Washington Conference.

Bob has been much loved around the world for his infectious enthusiasm and good humor. During all these years Carrol was an administrative assistant in various departments, editor of numerous newsletters, children’s choir director, Sabbath School teacher, accompanist and, in general, the heart of her home. Many a lunch hour during the Singapore years, Carrol could be seen cooking a meal, surrounded by the men of her family all simultaneously demanding her attention.

Since retirement, Bob has been active in SAGE, the senior organization he started, building and painting churches and schools at home and overseas, as well as many fellowship activities. Carrol has carried on a ministry for families of gays and lesbians and made many quilts.

They are blessed with three children, Robert Grady of Santa Rosa, Calif.; David and Karla (Avila) Grady of Dallas, Ore.; Paul and Brandy (Johnson) Grady of Kirkland, Wash.; 15 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.