Charles DeBenon

Charles was born in Longview, Texas and lived in Arlington and Beaumont until completing high school. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona and attended Arizona State University earning a Bachelor of Science Degree, a Masters Degree, and has done advanced work toward a Ph.D. degree. Charles taught school in California and Arizona. He was a math teacher, a coach, an Assistant Principal, a Principal and an Assistant Superintendent. Charles has been actively involved in the Lord’s work teaching and being involved in many ministries of the church. He and his wife Pat have been part of the West Olive family since March of 1999. Charles has served as a Deacon and an Elder. He became a part of the West Olive eldership in May of 2001.

Gary Hill

Gary was born in Delta, Colorado in 1949. He grew up in Hotchkiss and Durango
Colorado where he graduated from high school. Gary earned a BA in US History and Political
Science from Fort Lewis College in Durango and an MA in Western U.S. History from Western
State College in Gunnison, Colorado and completed his administration certification in education
from New Mexico State University. He taught school on the Navajo Reservation and at Mancos
High School. He taught American History and Government primarily and developed an Indian
History course at Shiprock High School in New Mexico. He was a high school varsity basketball
coach for 35 years in addition to being the Athletic Director and Principal.
Gary met Glenda in Durango, Colorado and were married in 1973. They have
three children, Casey, Cara and Clint and 5 super grandchildren. Glenda worked in the
recording department for Montezuma County before retiring. She taught Bible school classes
and was the church secretary for the Cortez Church of Christ.They moved to Arizona in 2015
and began serving the Lord at the West Olive congregation in October of that year.
Gary has been active in teaching Bible classes for young adults and teens. He was a deacon
and an elder at the Cortez Church of Christ in Colorado. On May 1, 2022, he began serving as
an elder for the church at West Olive.

Ray Martin

Ray was born in Terral, Oklahoma. He moved to central California in 1946 and grew up there.  Ray started work for the US Bureau of Reclamation in 1966, and served there as Surveyor and Construction Inspector until 1995.  Ray then worked for the Metro Water District of Southern California as a Construction Inspector from 1996 – 1999.

Margaret was born in Fresno, California and grew up in the Fresno area. Margaret was a school bus driver for 24 years in California from 1973 to 1996.

Ray and Margaret have served in seven congregations in three states over a period of 57 years.  They have served in just about every ministry that the congregations had to offer.  They find working with the Bible camps to be especially fulfilling.  Ray and Margaret served with the Sojourner Mission from 1999 to 2017.  Ray has served as an Elder in four congregations in three different states. Ray began serving as an Elder at West Olive in 2022.

Ray and Margaret have four children: Elaine (deceased), Kimberly, Ramona, and Thomas.  They have 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Bob Milstead

Bob was born and grew up in Dallas, Texas. Anne was born in Lubbock, Texas and lived most of her growing up years in various Central American countries where her parents, Casey and Virginia Fine were working with the US AID program. Bob and Anne were married in 1974 and both graduated from Abilene Christian University. They have three children, Jim, Virginia and Rob, and all are faithful Christians and active in the Lord’s work. Bob retired as Director of Retail from TaylorMade-Adidas, Ashworth Golf and served the congregation on a full time basis for several years. He and Anne lived in Texas, New Mexico and California before moving to Arizona. Anne taught school in a bilingual program in California before their move to Arizona and is now retired from the Tolleson school district. Bob and Anne have been active in teaching Bible classes over the past thirty-five years. Bob also served as deacon in the Ridgecrest, California Church of Christ. Bob has served as an elder at West Olive since 2000.

Steve Sior

Steve and Colleen were born in Wisconsin and their families moved to Surprise about the same time in 1967. They grew up together but did not become close until after Steve graduated from DeVry Institute of Technology. Colleen obeyed the gospel August 27, 1978 at the El Mirage congregation. She introduced Steve to Christ when they started dating. Steve was baptized on January 1, 1984 in Oscoda, Michigan. Four weeks later, Steve and Colleen were the first couple married at the West Olive building. They have two sons, Steven and Preston.

Steve has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology and a Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering. Steve loves to sing, share the gospel, teach Bible class, and serve others. Steve was active in Leadership Training for Christ from 1995 to 2012, serving on the LTC – Southwest Region Board of Directors between 2004 and 2012. Steve and Colleen have been serving the Lord at West Olive since November 1987.  Steve served as a deacon  from the early 1990’s through 2012 when he was installed as an elder. He has been serving as an elder since 2012.

Steven Tucker

Steven was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, and raised in the Church of Christ where his grandfather served as an elder. After attending the University of Michigan for three semesters, he moved to Arizona to be near his grandparents and to finish college at Arizona State University. Graduating in 1997, he began teaching high school mathematics for the Peoria High School district, retiring in 2022. Steven met and married Yolanda at the El Mirage Church of Christ in 1987. Yolanda has been in the senior care field since 1984 and is currently the executive director for a memory care facility. Steven and Yolanda have served the Lord at West Olive since 1992 with Steven serving as deacon and treasurer from 2000 to 2012 when he was installed as an elder. They have two children, Christopher and Alina.