The stories of half a century

Monday, April 19, 2010

The following 10 couples from Big Walnut Missionary Baptist Church in Reelsville were recently honored by the church for having been married at least 50 years. To read the story of the event, click here.

Roy and Delores Haddon

Roy and Delores Haddon

Roy Gayle Haddon and Delores Ruth Wegner were married on Feb. 14, 1958, at the Union E.U.B. (now Union United Methodist) Church, south of Brazil.

"We had the first snow of the season, eight inches, and it was really slick. Roy slid me down the sidewalk to the car. Two couples we were friends with, we thought, tried to beat us to our mobile home in Putnam County to spend the night with us. It's a good thing we took the main roads and they came through the country because we didn't beat them by much," recalled Delores.

"We had both been very active in 4-H for 10 years and received the 4-H Tenure Award at the Indiana State Fair the same year, but never dated," Delores said. "His cousin Janet Haddon and I were good friends and she decided it was time for both of us to find someone and settle down. So she took the matter in her own hands.

"She called me at Kidd Insurance where I worked and said Roy would take me to church if I'd go out with him. She called Roy and said I would go out with him if he would take me to church. When he called me I said I would go if we went to church. He said, 'If we have to.' We have been going to church together ever since," she added.

They have two children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren with another one on the way.

Bill and Bette Killion

Bill and Bette Killion were married on June 29, 1944. In a few months they will be celebrating their 66th wedding anniversary. They were married at the Prairie City United Brethren Church in Prairie City.

Bette, when asked to describe that day, wrote, "The day we were married was one of those golden days when the sun drips down like honey and coats all the earth with warmth. It was so nice that Bill was almost late for his own wedding."

She goes on to tell about Bill and his uncle from out of state going skinny-dipping in a favorite pit.

"They had so much fun they were almost late getting to the church," she said.

The Killions have six children and several grandchildren.

Chuck and Berenadine Coleman

Leroy and Florence Sillery

Chuck and Berenadine Coleman met at a drug store where she worked. He came into the store to cash his check and they began dating. After seven months there were married on Dec. 24, 1945. They have three children, five grand children, 11 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Leroy and Florence Sillery

Leroy and Florence Sillery met in 1943 in Pennsylvania where he was stationed in the Army.

A friend of Florence asked her to go out with him because a girl stood him up. They went out and saw each other every day for a week and wrote back and forth for two years. After he returned home to Indiana, they stayed in touch for another year and finally went to meet each other's families. They were married on June 11, 1947 in Brazil.

The couple recalled it being a sunny day and stopping at the drive-in for a hamburger on their way home from the wedding. They have three children, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Jim and Jean Cromwell

Jean Cromwell was working at the little restaurant that was across from Horace Link furniture store on the corner. Jim had just come home from the service and he and his buddy came in for a cup of coffee. Jim asked if he could take Jean home. That was the beginning of a long friendship. On Dec. 1, 1947, they became engaged and on Dec. 31 that year they were married.

Jean recalled the day being misty.

"We were going to Louisville, but when we got south of Cloverdale, it began to rain hard and our car windshield had a hole in it. The water poured into my lap so when we got to Spencer, we got a room at the Spencer Hotel. The next morning, when we woke up, there was six inches of snow on the ground. We've had our ups and downs but all in all, with the Lord's help, it has been a wonderful life for 62 years," she said.

They have two daughters three grandsons, one granddaughter and seven great-granddaughters.

Amy and Dave Geary

Amy and Dave Geary were married on March 13, 1950, in a little country church by the Rev. Lowell Townsend.

"Sixty years is a long time and we made it! The location of the wedding was West Middleton. We have lived there, attended high school and graduated in a class of ten in 1948. The years have been good for us and life with Dave has certainly been interesting. He claims that I'm his only investment that grew!"

They have four children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Willie and Esther Taylor

The Taylors were married on May 2, 1951, at the Clay County Courthouse by Judge Stewart. They honeymooned in Effingham, Ill., where a cow bawled outside their room all night.

Esther recalled being introduced to each other by her brother John.

"Later, when I received my engagement ring, I cancelled my class ring order. I thought the diamond ring was prettier than any old class ring," she said.

They have three children, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and another on the way.

Bob and Joan Rissler

The Risslers were set up on a blind date by Bill Hammond. They were married on Nov. 30, 1951, at Gobin Memorial Methodist Church by Reverend Elmer Harvey. This November they will have been married 59 years.

"Plans had been underway for Bob and I to become one, but it was imperative that we wait until 'the crops were harvested in the fall.' It seemed the work in the fields went on forever and I had plenty of time to plan the nuptials.

"Finally, Bob said it was time -- the crops were in, but somehow on that day, Bob confessed there were still about two loads of corn in the field to be harvested. We had a wonderful wedding. After a honeymoon in Florida, we hurried home and Bob did harvest those two loads of corn that had waited patiently for him," recalled Joan.

They have two children and four grandchildren.

Bill and Shirley Lundy

Bill and Shirley Lundy were married on April 1, 1955, at Glenburn Community Center in Linton at the First Baptist Church.

"Bill had just got out of four years in the Navy, when his brother asked him to join the Air Force with him. The three months in between the Navy and the Air Force is when I met Bill.

"My girlfriend and I went to the midnight show and after the show, we started walking home when Bill came by and asked me if he could take me home. When I saw those big brown eyes and his beautiful white teeth, I was hooked. That was how we started dating. Bill says he still gets a foolin' but I told him he has never forgotten our anniversary since it is on April Fool's day," said Shirley.

They have three children and two grandchildren.

Jimmy and Barbara Proctor

Jimmy and Barbara Proctor first met at a roller skating rink. They were married July 2, at the First Presbyterian Church in Brazil, Indiana. The weather that day was sunny and in the 90s.

Barbara writes that "There was a train derailment that night across the road from where we were staying. One tank car had been loaded with Italian olives. Due to the high humidity and temperatures in the 90s, the olives made a really good 'stink.'"

They have one daughter and two grandsons.

Comments
View 1 comment
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • an accomplishment to be proud of and what a legacy to leave for your families!

    -- Posted by talkymom3 on Mon, Apr 19, 2010, at 12:30 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: