In Loving Memory of Rev. David O. Rankin (June 10, 1937 – April 5, 2024)
We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. David O. Rankin who died on April 5, 2024, at the age of 86.
David was born on June 10, 1937, in McKeesport, PA to Oran Foster Rankin and Reba George Rankin. He grew up in Pennsylvania along with his two brothers, Paul, and Richard. His early interests included the movies – the Marx Brothers and The Lone Ranger. He also had an interest in running, and swimming, and an early passion for all-weather street basketball. In high school, he was elected student council president and a member of the McKeesport State Championship Basketball Team (1955).
David received his Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science and History from Westminster College, PA (1959). At Westminster, he wrote a regular column for the college newspaper, became captain of the Westminster basketball team, and was later inducted into the Westminster College Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1959, he married Virginia Ann Minor and together they headed to Moscow, Idaho where David worked toward his graduate degree. David graduated with his Master of Arts from the University of Idaho in 1961 following which he became a political science instructor at Cornell College in Iowa (1962). He also worked as an associate editor of the North American Review magazine, with a regular column, “The Anarchist Dictionary”. Two years later, feeling a deep discontent, he turned inward to explore the spiritual realm. He left the academic realm and started studying for the ministry. He earned his Bachelor of Divinity from Crane Theological School at Tufts University, MA in 1965.
Rev. Rankin was ordained by the First Parish of Watertown, MA on November 27, 1966, where he served his first settled ministry from 1966 to 1969. The church membership tripled in his three years, and he assisted in founding the Fair Housing Committee. In 1969, he accepted a call from the First Unitarian Church in New Bedford, MA where he would serve until 1973, and he became involved in social justice work in addition to draft counseling, prison reform, and work with senior citizens. The church sponsored a bail bond project and established a drug rehabilitation center in the basement of the building. From 1973 to 1979, Rev. Rankin served the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, CA. During his tenure, the debt on the building was retired and the congregation grew; he welcomed the first Gay Caucus as part of the recognized groups. He then served the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, GA from 1979 to 1982. He participated in the civil and gay/lesbian rights marches along Auburn Avenue. He helped raise funds to purchase “The Mountain”, a Unitarian Universalist retreat in North Carolina, where he taught a popular course “On Theology Through Biography” each summer. For the next sixteen years, he served The Fountain Street Church, an independent liberal church in Grand Rapids, MI.
In 1971, he received the Clarence R. Skinner Award for the best Unitarian Universalist social action sermon, “The Salvation of New Bedford.” In 1983, Starr King School for the ministry honored him with an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology.
Rev. Rankin published three books: So Great a Cloud of Witnesses; Theology Through Humor; and My Ending is My Beginning; two meditation manuals: Portraits from the Cross; and Dancing in the Empty Spaces; as well as numerous articles in religious journals.
David is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ginger Rankin; his sons: Mark Rankin and Oran Rankin (Sara); grandchildren: Jim Minor Rankin, David Rankin (Jessica), Emily Rankin, Seneca Wainright (Justin); as well as his great grandchildren: Liam and Clara Wainright.
A private memorial service is being planned.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ginger Minor Rankin Scholarship Endowment. This can be done at the University of Idaho’s web page: Donation Annual Giving. GiveCampus. Please choose Ginger Minor Rankin Scholarship Endowment in the Designation box and enter “In Memory of David O. Rankin” in the “In Honor of” box.
Notes of condolences can be sent to Ginger Rankin at Gingerrankin@moscow.com or mailed to Ginger Rankin, 312 North Garfield St., Moscow, ID 83843.
A “note of condolence”…I am 93 years old, and a UU all my life…East and West Coasts -never in middle of USA. Currently I am a member of First Parish Watertown, where your dear husband’s name is listed on the wall of the Sanctuary. The name kept “ringing a bell” in my head. My son “found” this delightful “Memory” for me today. So NOW I can recall why that “bell” rang. It was the San Francisco Church!
I lived in or near SF – through some painful divorce years (before a move to San Diego), and the SF Church became so special to me….AND I joined the Starr King School Board of Trustees!!
And now I shall find and read David’s books!