Worker serves congregation for 50 years

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
Birdie Pool has kept a gentle hand on the pulse of First UMC, San Angelo, for 50 years. She has warned pastors in love about potential issues she sees brewing and listened closely to hurts that need healing.
Those who know her say she is an example of “Christianity in action,” a good steward of the church’s resources, a soothing force to all.
Pool, 69, believes she is simply doing what Christ has called her to do.
She’s been part of the First UMC staff since June 1, 1957, providing wisdom and counsel, although they aren’t required in her job description.
She began as the church’s membership secretary after finishing business school in San Angelo. About three years later, a bookkeeping position opened. She took it.
Today Pool works as the church’s business manager, counting offering money, paying the church bills, answering the church phone, greeting people and doing the “general office routine,” she said.
“I enjoy counting the money on Mondays and greeting people and seeing members and all the people who come through,” Pool said. “They all become family. They’re interested in you, and you become interested in them.
“I guess there’s not really anything about my job I dislike. You have to love your job, or you wouldn’t stay.”
Rick Dyke, First UMC administrator, said people bring in their offerings just to have the chance to talk to Pool.
“She is the business manager, but she does so much more than that,” Dyke said. “She is a pastor in many ways, as well as a business manager. She always goes above and beyond. She helps with membership. She answers the phone. She’s doing so much more than her job.”
Fred Key, a church lay leader who has known Pool for 15 years, said, “Birdie is the epitome of Christianity in action. That is the only way I can describe her. She cares so much for the church, for everyone in the church, but she does it through her actions and in such a low-key manner.
“She’s the mother of the church. That’s the way I look at her.”
Pool grew up on a farm about 25 miles east of San Angelo in Eola. Deciding she “didn’t want to stay on the farm,” she moved to San Angelo to attend a business college. First UMC is the only place she’s ever worked.
“The staff here is wonderful,” Pool said. “We all get along fine. Mostly everyone is congenial and nice.”
Dyke said Pool takes great care to make sure the church staff spends its money wisely.
Her kind and gentle demeanor, he said, is what draws her to others.
“Everybody loves Birdie,” Dyke said.
About 200 people attended a 50th anniversary celebration for Pool at the church this summer, he added.
In her years at the church, Pool has worked with 12 pastors and 23 associate pastors and has seen different styles of running the congregation, adjusting to them all. Her associates joke that Pool could train the pastors who come in.
The biggest change Pool said she’s seen was the introduction of computers.
“It’s a challenge learning the new computers and trying to stay up-to-date with it,” she said.
Pool is a widow. She lives with her 91-year-old mother. In her spare time, she said she enjoys doing needlepoint and counted cross stitch, though her eyesight is not as good as it used to be.
Her mother loves baseball, she said, so they try to get out to some local games.
In all that she does, Key said, Pool is genuine.
“She’s a genuinely good person, a true person,” he said. “She’s going to retire one of these days, and the church will go on, but, boy, Birdie will be missed. She’s the calming force, the soothing force of that church.
“Everybody needs a Birdie Pool in their church.”