Rev. Gary Oba is a native of Southern California, having been raised in the Crenshaw area and graduating from Dorsey High School and UCLA. He received his M. Div. from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. He has served churches in the Bay Area and Western Oregon and, most recently, West LA UMC. He and his spouse, Rev. Janet Cromwell, met and became friends with Rev. Dr. Ken and Michelle Walden while working on the staff of Claremont School of Theology. Revs. Gary and Janet retired last year and are now living at Pilgrim Place in Claremont.