Gelgelu Gomalo Dabi

Obbo Gelgelu Gomalo was born in 1945, to his father Gomalo Dhabi and his mother Jatane Bullo in Lenccaa, West Arsii zone in Oromia, Ethiopia. He was the 7th child of 8 siblings.

At the age of 12, Obbo Gelgelu left his primary duty of herding cattle and assisting on family farm to enroll at the Kofalee elementary school, where he attended 1st and 2nd grades. He then joined a school run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kuyera and attended school throughout 11th grade. He was the second student from the Arsii area to join the Kuyera Adventist Training Center. It was at Kuyera that he accepted Christ as his savior and also involved in evangelism with Pastor Teklehaimanot Kalacha. Later on, he graduated from the Debre Birhan Teachers Training Institute where he received intense training in teaching.

Obbo Gelgelu dedicated his life to a teaching profession where he shaped the life many young men and women. During his 45 years of teaching profession he served at various places in Southern Ethiopia, including Wotera, Kambata, Jille, and Kuyera 7th-day Adventist Elementary School.

Over the many years of his teaching career, his students viewed him as a father figure, mentor, confidant, and role model. He loved studying his Bible and praying for and with others. He was an active servant of God at his church and cherished praising the Lord with his family. A few years before his retirement, Obbo Gelgelu moved to the USA 1997 with all his family members to live closer to his daughter, Dureti Gelgelu.

God blessed us with his life as a teacher, role model, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He was known for his strict discipline, and moderation in life at school, community and home. He is known for a firm belief in hard work and full dedication to the duties in life. He will be remembered as someone who gave all he had (time, skills, resources) to his family and humanity.

Obbo Gelgelu Gomalo passed away on January 28, 2022 at the Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, USA. He is survived by his wife Bekelech Kabata, 7 children, 16 grandchildren, other family members and friends. May God help us to carry on his legacy of commitment to Christian Education and spreading the good news of the gospel. He leaves his loving memory with all of us until we all join again in Heaven. Until then, we say “Farewell” to him for we have the faith and hope of meeting him on that blessed and glorious resurrection morning when the dead in Christ shall rise never more to die. May he rest in peace!