Married couples honored at fair

Thursday, July 27, 2006

They may not have been the longest married couple honored at Family Fun Day but Robert and Mildred Sutherlin have been married for 61 years.

This feat is not overlooked by their family.

Their son, Roger Sutherlin, said it was quite simple how his parents met. His dad lived between two churches. There was just one mile between them, so one Sunday he decided to walk to the church in the north. That's where he met his wife.

Mildred knows God has been behind it since then.

"The Lord was behind it. That's who gets the credit," Mildred said.

The Sutherlins, Greencastle, have four children, seven grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. With those numbers they have been able to give out advice. Their grandson, Ron, remembers what his grandfather told him when he got married.

"He said for me to never forget that my wife was the queen of the house and to treat her like a queen," Ron said.

Yet, every family member present at the event agreed that they are very family oriented through the good times and the bad.

"The glue to this family is family," Roger said.

Other couples at Family Fun Day gave their advice for a long lasting marriage also.

When asked what has held one marriage together for so long, one husband replied with two words, "Yes, dear."

Another husband shared his story about dropping a pie on the floor one day when his wife was gone at lunchtime. His advice for the men in the audience was: "Guys, when it comes close to noon and your wife's gone, go to Wendy's."

Family Fun Day's theme of "There's Gonna Be a Weddin!" featured many other events also.

Many women shared stories about their wedding dresses or their mother's dress. Each woman had the dress she wanted to talk about with her.

Several ladies mentioned making their own dresses for a price of $25 or less. Others mentioned the stories behind them such as Edith Fry, who wore her mother's 1915 wedding dress in 1941.

The day was also filled with laughter as the crowd was treated to a skit titled, "The Weddin." Plus audience members shared their funny wedding stories from tales of unity candles that practically refused to light to grooms being late for the ceremony to the tale of a bridesmaid falling in a creek and wearing her wet shoes as she walked down the aisle causing the bride's mother to giggle throughout her wedding ceremony.

Bonnie Bryan, Putnam County Extension Homemakers advisor and former president said there was at least 200 people in attendance. She said the idea for this family fun day was formed about a year ago and she was very glad it was so successful.

"It really touched me," Bryan said.

Family Fun Day is sponsored by a different group each year and always takes place on the Wednesday of the fair.

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