Iris Sholtz Maltby in the Robe of Achievement

Iris Sholtz Maltby was born in Nortonville, KS and attended church and Junior Christian Endeavor there. While she was still young her family moved to Verona, NY where she was later baptized and joined the Seventh Day Baptist church there. She graduated high school in Onieda, NY and moved to Milton, WI to attend the Milton College. At college she met Leon Maltby, her future husband.

Before getting married Iris became a teacher and served in several district schools in the Verona area. She taught in public schools and later a private school in Plainfield, NJ. She was a gifted teacher. She also supported her husbands ministry as a Sabbath school teacher in his pastorates in Shiloh, NJ, White Cloud, MI, and Riverside, CA. She wrote plays and scripts to be used by children and young people. She is also a gifted hostess and frequently opened her home to visitors.

Iris had a great interest in working with young people and her passion led her to be the force behind the founding of Camp Harmony in New York State. She knew the needs of the youth there and had a feeling that camping would benefit them. She was also an activating force in the planning for Jersey Oaks Camp, and served while living in Riverside, at Pacific Pines Camp. She is quoted as saying to young people who face difficult tasks, “That’s great, you can do it, go ahead!”

Her husband, Leon was a chaplain in WWII and then was called to serve our denomination as editor of the Sabbath Recorder. Iris was a strong supporter for him there and routinely housed people from all over the country as well as those from other countries.

Even in retirement Iris served the Lord, choosing to volunteer as a visitor in nursing homes. During her retirement Iris said, “At last I have time and energy to do some of the important things of life that always have had to be pushed into the background.”