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What an interesting project I undertook for the month of May. I asked you to send me your 50th wedding anniversary dates. Many of you have been married for more than 50 years. I was surprised, yet pleased, at the response. I want to thank each of you who took the time to answer my letter. I now have 80 e-mail addresses from our BSU friends. I received 48 responses. There are 3 couples who celebrated 60 plus anniversaries. One couple celebrated 59 years of wedded bliss, four couples celebrated 57 years, four with 56 years, and 7 couples celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. That means that 29 more couples celebrated 50 or more years of marriage. Now I must point out to you, I am only reporting on those BSU friends who have e-mail addresses.
Here is my list of the top 19 couples based on the first responses I received: Bill and Joyce Purdue 63 years (click below for picture and article), Bill (Ivan) and Mildred Christoff 61 years, Lee and Irma Swope reached 60 years before Lee died in August 2002, Frank and Dorothy Geriche 59 years, Robert and Betha Ginriche(Robt. died in 2003), Darold and Elizabeth Morgan, Gordon and Nona Grace Eade, and John and Mary Ruth Whitman all celebrated 57 years of wedded bliss. Then Gene and Rosemary Thompson, Don and Sarah Bethel, Maurice and Charlotte Swinford, and Taylor and Catherine Neely all celebrating 56 years, followed by Jerry and Helen Williams, LaRue and Lora Blackwell, Kenneth and Carolyn Rushing, Willard and Norma Dawson, Archie and Joy Mayo, Gerald and Rinnie Spencer (Gerald died in 2003), and Harold and Phyllis Stroup all with 55 years of marriage.
Click on the underlined names for special letters to Helen and pictures.
| Name | Wedding Date | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Bill and Joyce Purdue | Aug. 16, 1941 | 63 |
| Bob & Rosalea Mann | Nov. 22, 1941 | 63 |
| Lee & Irma Swope | May 31, 1942 | 62 |
| Charles & Erica Morris | Sep. 12, 1942 | 62 |
| Albert & Irene Horrell | Nov. 6, 1943 | 61 |
| Bill & Mildred Christoff | Dec. 24, 1943 | 61 |
| Charles & Marjorie Brim | Dec. 16, 1944 | 60 |
| Frank & Dorothy Geriche | Apr. 1, 1945 | 59 |
| A. B. (Bud) & Aline Mifflin | Aug. 18, 1945 | 59 |
| Robert & Betha Rose Ginrich | Feb. 12, 1946 | 58 |
| Waldo & Colleen Killman | Mar. 24, 1946 | 58 |
| Gordon & Nona Grace Eade | Mar. 16, 1947 | 57 |
| Gene & Geneva Parkhill | Jun. 1, 1947 | 55 |
| John & Mary Ruth Whitman | Jun. 15, 1947 | 57 |
| Harold & Elizabeth Morgan | Jun. 20, l947 | 57 |
| Taylor & Catherine Neely | May 28, 1948 | 56 |
| Frank & Jeanne Marshall | Jun. 4, 1948 | 56 |
| Gene & Rosemary Thompson | Jun. 5, 1948 | 56 |
| Maurice & Charlotte Swinford | Jun. 26, l948 | 56 |
| Paul & Doris Dempsey | Aug. 7, l948 | 56 |
| Gerald & Rinnie Spencer | Aug. 27, 1948 | 56 |
| Carrol & Grace Fletcher | Sep. 7, 1948 | 56 |
| Don & Sarah Bethel | Oct. 7, 1948 | 56 |
| LaRue & Lora Blackwell | Dec. 23, l948 | 55 |
| Jim & Dorothy Lang | May 21, 1949 | 55 |
| Phil & Rosemary Parks | Jun. 9, 1949 | 55 |
| Willard & Norma Dawson | Jun. l2, 1949 | 55 |
| Kenneth & Carolyn Rushing | Jun. 18, 1949 | 55 |
| Harold & Phyllis Stroup | Aug. 13, 1949 | 55 |
| Archie & Joy Mayo | Aug. 27, 1949 | 55 |
| Jerry & Charlotte McKnight | Sep. 3, 1949 | 55 |
| Jerry & Helen Williams | Nov. 24, 1949 | 55 |
| Gene & Ruby Vaughn | May 27, 1950 | 54 |
| Bob & Barbara Ross | Sep. 6, 1950 | 54 |
| Ralph & Betty Turnbull | Sep. 16, 1950 | 54 |
| Paul & Beverly Davis | Oct. 27, 1950 | 54 |
| Bob & Evelyn Mandrell | Dec. 24, 1950 | 54 |
| Don & Helen Ruth Dillow | Jan. 1, 1951 | 53 |
| Robert & Suzi Stuckey | April 29, 1951 | 50 |
| Wayne & Lela Clapp | Jun. 24, 1951 | 53 |
| Herman & Mariana Thompson | Jul. 1, 1951 | 53 |
| Myron & Marjorie Dillow | Aug. 14, 1951 | 53 |
| Beryl & Dorothy McClerren | Aug. 19, 1951 | 53 |
| A. B. & Rose Lee Plunkett | Sep. l, 1951 | 53 |
| Ray & Mildred Odle | Oct. 14, 1951 | 53 |
| Ken & Pat Neibel | Oct. 29, 1951 | 53 |
| Charles & Betty Medearis | Dec. 17, 1951 | 52 |
| Kenneth & Betty Hall | May 4, 1952 | 52 |
| Cliff & Erline Burchyett | Jul. 17, 1952 | 52 |
| Gerald & Betty Lou Steffy | Jun. 1, 1952 | 52 |
| Walter & Bessie Mae Davis | Jun. 13, 1952 | 52 |
| Roger & Barbara Turner | Aug. , 1952 | 52 |
| George & Juanita Kunce | Aug. 8, 1953 | 51 |
| George & Leona Davis | Feb. 28, 1953 | 51 |
| Dale & Ruth Crockett | Jun. 5, 1953 | 51 |
| Joe & Nellie Claxton | Jun. 20, 1953 | 51 |
| Clifford & Jane Sims | Jan. 20, 1953 | 51 |
| Stan & Micki Nicol | Aug. 14, 1953 | 51 |
| Eugene & Phronsie Quinn | Aug. 28, 1953 | 51 |
| Bill & Irma Richardson | Aug. 29, 1953 | 55 |
| Dale & Louise Pitts | Dec. 23, 1953 | 51 |
| Dale & Ada Ann Clemens | Feb. 14, 1954 | 50 |
| James & Jo Williams | Mar. 12, 1954 | 50 |
| Richard & Venita Stewart | Apr. 17, 1954 | 50 |
| Gene & Peggy Phillips | May 15, 1954 | 50 |
| Bill & Marilyn Dabney | Jun. 12, 1954 | 50 |
| Larry & Phyllis Toler | Jun. 19, 1954 | 50 |
| Otto & Gloria Brown | Aug. 6, 1954 | 50 |
| Robert & Pat Bellinger | Sep. 4, 1954 | 50 |
| Wilbur and Audrey Talbert | October 9, 1955 | 52 |
| Gerald and Sue Glasco | June 15, 1956 | 51 |
| George and Jerry Casey | June 21, 1956 | 51 |
| Phil and Lotella Cole | June, 1956 | 51 |
| Darrell and Verona Hightsmith | June 28,1957 | 50 |
| Harlan and Barbara Highsmith | September 15, 1957 | 50 |
| Melvin and Marta Ebbs | June 27, 1958 | 50 |
| Frank and Susie Tebow | March 22, 1958 | 50 |