THE
HOPWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
HALL
OF FAME
WILBUR
AND MIRIAM BRYSON
WILBUR GLENN BRYSON
was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania on April 19, 1911. He was the third child
of William and Sarah Bryson. During his early childhood the family resided on Walnut
Street in Uniontown and they attended the Third Presbyterian Church. When
Wilbur was a young lad the Bryson's moved to a new home on Bennington Road in
Hopwood. Through the encouragement of the Scott family, they began to attend
the Hopwood Methodist Church. Wilbur was a member of the boys Sunday School
class, which was taught by Clara Nesmith.
In his early adult
years Wilbur became involved as a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts. The troop was
sponsored by the church and even after stepping down as Scoutmaster he served
as the church representative to the Scouts.
Wilbur was very active
in the church and served on many committees: the official board and trustees to
name a few. He was also a member of the choir and served as Lay Leader, Sunday
School Superintendent and a Sunday School teacher. He is presently serving as
the representative of the United Methodist men.
Wilbur was also a
member of the church dartball team and enjoyed it very much.
While attending church
in Hopwood he met and married Miriam Joy Deffenbaugh. They were the proud
parents of a son, Kenneth Bryson. Wilbur and Miriam were married for 54 years
until Miriam went to be with the Lord.
Wilbur retired from
West Penn Power Company in 1973.
At the time of
induction into the Hall of Fame, Wilbur was not as involved as he once was, but
he still attended church regularly. He still loved to worship and serve the God
that had been a part of his everyday life for almost 80 years. Since induction, Wilbur has gone to be with
the God that he loved.
MIRIAM JOY DEFFENBAUGH
BRYSON was born in Hopwood on February 23, 1916. She was the eldest of three
daughters born to Guy and Helen Deffenbaugh. Miriam lived in Hopwood all of her
young life and attended Hopwood Methodist Church, where she met her husband to
be, Wilbur Bryson. They married in 1935 and after 15 years the Lord blessed
them with a son, Kenneth, who is the present Lay Leader of the Hopwood United
Methodist Church.
Miriam attended Sunday
School all of her young life and as a teenager became Superintendent of the
Junior Department. This was the beginning of her work in the Sunday School.
Eventually Miriam became a teacher in the Sunday School. This is what Miriam
loved to do. She taught a class for over 50 years. She was the Sunday School teacher
of Class 9 for many of those years. Due to health problems Miriam reluctantly
had to give up teaching.
Miriam was also active
in other church programs, such as the Women's Society of Christian Service. She
served as church historian and was active in the prayer chain ministry of the
church as well. After she became unable to attend church regularly because of
health problems Miriam was still active in scheduling people to serve as
greeters before the worship service on Sunday mornings.
Serving the God she
loved was a part of Miriam’s everyday life. On Sept. 17, 1989 Miriam went to be
with the Lord in her eternal home.