The Reverend Dr. Robert M. Doss, devoted parish minister, talented singer and artist, and one of the many who marched in Selma with Dr. King in 1965, died on February 12, 2016, aged 88.

Bob was widely known for his gentle and faithful personal presence with both parishioners and ministerial colleagues. One of his successors at the Wilmington church described Bob’s 31-year ministry there as “one long sermon” whose message was that “the legacy of our finite lives is a function of the connections we have to other people.”

Robert Mabry Doss was born to James and Sarah Doss on September 12, 1927 in Jacksonville, FL. After service in the United States Army, he earned a B.A. from the University of Richmond in 1949. He later studied at Colgate-Rochester Divinity School before completing his B.D. at Starr King School for the Ministry in 1959. In 1980 he was honored with a D.D. by Meadville- Lombard Theological School.

Mr. Doss was ordained to the ministry in 1959 by the Unitarian Church of Rockville, MD, and served there four years until a call to the First Unitarian Society of Wilmington, DE, in 1963, where his pastorate lasted for nearly 31 years. In 1994 the congregation named him Minister Emeritus.

The Reverend Dr. Doss gave long and varied service to the wider UU movement, to his ministerial colleagues, and to local communities. He was chair of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee and president of the UUMA, served on the boards of Beacon Press and the St. Lawrence Foundation, on the UUA Panel on Theological Education, and on the UUA RE Accreditation Committee. Beyond UU institutions, he was a member of the NAACP; board member of Planned Parenthood; and a board member of the ACLU.

Bob had many talents — singing, drawing designs and caricatures, and writing children’s stories to accompany his sermons. His love of nature as a “naturalistic humanist” led to camping summers in Maine where he hiked, canoed, and carved walking sticks.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margaret W. Doss, a daughter; a son; and five grandchildren. Condolences may be sent to Peggy Doss at 112 Wynwood Drive, Wilmington, DE 19810-4428.