Former educators get chance to reunite with students decades later
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
While the Rev. Wallace and Ruth Robeson proudly proclaim Whitewater as a community they call home, their hearts and minds are often focused on another corner of the world.
For 44 years, the Robesons served as teaching missionaries in three cities within Turkey through their involvement with the United Church of Christ. They eventually retired from their long-running endeavor in 1996.
Seventeen years later, the Robesons recently took part in a special event as they met with some of the school teachers, staff and students they worked with over the years in Istanbul, Tarsus and Izmir. They were honored to a tea party in Tarsus, and more than 90 people attended.
“It was wonderful,” Ruth Robeson said of the reunion, which took place in late March. “Everyone was so welcoming.”
Rev. Robeson said some of the students during the reunion were from he and Ruth’s earliest years out on the field. It presented some interesting situations.
“We found it hard to remember the names of so many grads, especially since we knew them when they were 18 or 19 years old, and now they are 55 to 70 years old,” Rev. Robeson said. “The memories of those 11 days (during the reunion) do not fade quickly or easily. They will be with us forever.”
Ruth maintained a strong sense of humor as she reflected on the experience.
“I felt like I hadn’t changed at all, but they had,” she said, with a laugh. “It was so nice seeing everyone again. It’s amazing how some of our students have grown up.”
Although their work was on behalf of a religious organization, Ruth emphasized she and her husband did their work through a secular lens because they were teaching in the public school system. During their long-running stint, Rev. Robeson served primarily as a principal, and Ruth was a teacher.
Since retiring, the Robesons have taken up residence within the Fairhaven Retirement Community. But neither has completely retired.
Rev. Robeson continues teaching a weekly Bible study class and serves on Fairhaven’s board of directors. He and Ruth also serve in various leadership roles at Congregational United Church of Christ, within Fairhaven and the Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ.
Rev. Robson was born and raised in the Whitewater area. He grew up on a farm between Janesville and Clinton and graduated from Whitewater High School.
Ruth is a native of New Jersey. She met the Rev. Robson in Turkey as both began their missions work. They were married in 1955 and have a daughter.
“We’ll be celebrating our 58th anniversary next month,” Ruth said.
Worked as an expatriate English teacher with Wally Robeson as our principal of Tarsus American School in the 1970’s. He did a great job, was a wonderful guy, and got us through some really tough times….