Rev. Theodore J. Solomon (STH’57)
This obituary was originally published online on May 24, 2022 in Ames Tribune. It can be found here.
May 28, 1932 – May 18, 2022
Theodore (Ted) Joseph Solomon, 89, of Ames, passed away on May 18, 2022 at Northcrest Retirement Community. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Friday, June 17, at Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames, with a visitation one hour prior to the service.
Ted was born in Bismarck, ND to Theodore J. and Elizabeth M. (Yeasley) Solomon. Ted graduated from Bismarck High School in 1950, and he was very proud of his North Dakota roots. In 1953, Ted married Marian G. Loomer right before Marian left for India. He attended Hamline University and graduated from Macalester College in 1954. Ted received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from Boston University in 1957. He was pastor of the Worcester Monthly Meeting of Friends in Worcester, MA from 1955 to 1957. Ted was ordained as a Methodist minister in 1957, and was pastor of the United Methodist church in West Concord, MN from 1957 to 1959. Though he officially remained appointed by the United Methodist church, he was drawn to academic life and religious studies. Ted studied under Mircea Eliade and earned his MA and PhD in Philosophy from the University of Chicago in 1961 and 1966. He began his teaching career in 1962 at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, NC. Ted received a Danforth Teaching Award in 1965. He taught at Florida Presbyterian College in St. Petersburg, FL from 1966 to 1969. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, Ted was a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation and helped organize peace action projects and non-violent direct action for civil rights in the South. He joined the Religious Studies faculty at Iowa State University in 1969. From 1969 to 1994, he was a professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. Ted received tremendous satisfaction from teaching others, particularly about Christianity and other world religions.
Ted was a member of the Ames Friends Meeting and Collegiate United Methodist Church. He enjoyed the fellowship of Masons, Kiwanis, St. Andrew’s book group, water aerobics and playing cribbage. Instead of saying “goodbye”, Ted always said “Peace and Love”.
Ted is survived by his daughter, Rebecca (Robert) Musselman of Ames; daughter-in-law, Linda Winston of Richmond, VA; one brother, Terry (Sue) Solomon of Tempe, AZ; four grandchildren, Jeff (Christin) Solomon of Kodiak, AK, Eli (Meggan) Musselman M.D. of Ames, IA, Carli Solomon of Denver, CO, and Joshua Curtis of Harrisonburg, VA; and four great grandchildren, Anastasia and Calypso Solomon of Kodiak, AK, and Micah and Madelynn Musselman of Ames, IA.
Preceding Ted in death were his wife, Marian Solomon; his sons, Robert Solomon M.D. of Williamsburg, VA and Richard Solomon of Parker, CO; his brother, Robert Solomon of Tempe, AZ; and grandson, Ezekiel Musselman of Ames, IA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Ames Friends Meeting, 121 S. Maple Ave, Ames, IA 50010 or Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014.