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Baptist Student UnionSIU 40s and 50sContact - helen@BSU-SIU.com |
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Bill and Joyce Purdue - 63 Years
 | Helen, Bill and I were married August 16, 1941 in Monahans, Texas. My parents had been transferred there for a couple of years.
Bill was in school in Carbondale that summer -- rooming with Lee Swope and Glen Yarbrough. He and his sister, Virginia Koonce (Married to former BSU secretary Ray Koonce) came to Texas and we had a formal wedding in the First Baptist Church, Monahans. Returned to Carbondale to finish college. Bill was BSU president that year. After graduation we went to Southwestern Seminary and returned to Illinois and St. Louis to pastor 2 churches before coming to Tennessee where we were at FBC Kingsport, TN. for 17 years. Bill's last 10 years were spent at Carson Newman College as director of the Bible School. We retired in Jefferson City, TN. and are still going to activities at the college. This picture was taken last week with the president of CNC and his wife.
While at the college Bill continued to preach every Sunday -- usually in an interim -- but is no longer ableto do that. We will celebrate our 63rd anniversary Aug. 16. BILL AND JOYCE LANCASTER PURDUE |
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Bill (Ivan) and Mildred Christoff - 61 Years
 Helen ---here is a picture of me and Bill (without our children) that was taken at our 50th Wedding Anniversary by the cake decorated appropriately, and in the only home we have ever owned (but sold it to move here). You might notice I'm holding on to Bill to steady him, and he is otherwise being braced and it doesn't show in the picture. (50th wedding anniversary picture) (2) A recent picture of Bill and me in front of the apartment building in which we presently live (Married 61 years). MILDRED CHRISTOFF | 
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Lee and Irma Swope - 60 Years
 | Dear Helen: Lee and I were married May 31, 1942. We celebrated our 50th anniversary with a reception at the FBC, Marion and a trip to Hawaii. Coleen Kilman was our tour director and she had been on the Infamous Honeymoon BSU Bus Ride to Ridgecrest in 1942. She showed us a fabulous time with lots of special attention and we reenacted one scene where Lee pinned a rhododendren blossom in my hair. |
| Several of those going to Ridgecrest on the bus that year were able to come to our fiftieth celebration at the church. There was one other Honeymoon couple on the bus and Lee married another couple after we got back. On our 60th, Lee was not able to go out, so I bought a new table cloth and etc. and planned to pick up a meal and do a candle light dinner. However a friend came by and said, "Let me bring you something". So she brought a casserole with a candle in it, other food and balloons etc. I handed her my camera to take some pictures of the event. Later I discovered there was no film in the camera so there is no record. We were thankful that we had over 60 wonderfully happy years together. IRMA | |
Phil and Rosemary Parks - 55 Years
| Phil and I will have been married 55 years June 9. We were married in First Baptist Church at Jonesboro, Arthur Farmer performing the ceremony. Bob Mandrell and Evelyn Mullins (now Mrs. Mandrell) stood up with us. Brother Farmer was my pastor and had been Phil's at Indian Camp earlier. I think it was the next year, on August 24, that Brother Farmer, then pastor at Elm St. in Murphysboro, performed the ceremony uniting our brother Jim Martin and Vivian Porter from Murphysboro in marriage. Both of them were graduated from Southern and I think took part in some of the BSU activities, but were not real active. They are both retired and live in Mattoon. Well, guess I will see if I can pull up the May web site. Adios, Rosemary |  |
Gerald and Betty Lou Steffy - 52 Years
 | Betty Lou and I celebrated our 50th anniversary on June 1, 2002 (1952-2002). The celebration was at the Woodland Baptist Church on June 1, 2002, as planned by our children. That was the surprise and then there was another celebration at Calvary Baptist Church in Streator on Sunday June 2, 2002 (served since August, 1998 as pastor). We had several present from churches where I pastored. Two BSU families were there: Gene & Peggy Phillips and George & Leona Davis. We were married by Dale Clemens at the Baptist
Foundation Chapel in Carbondale. I am enclosing some
pictures we had made at that time. GERALD |
Herman and Marianna Thompson - 53 Years
| This was made at the family celebration with our siblings and their families the night before "the big day." We were married on July 1, 1951, at the Brownfield Baptist Church, Brownfield, Illinois [that is near Golconda] in Southern Illinois. Below: Beryl and Dorothy McClerren - 53 years! We went back to Odin Baptist Church to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. The photo was takn on the exact spot where we were married. |  |
Beryl and Dorothy McClerren - 53 Years
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Cliff and Erline Burchett - 52 Years
| Cliff and Erline were married in the First Baptist Church of Gorham IL. John Dickson, Father of the Bride, performed the ceremony. Cliff said, "Dad did a good job." |  |
Roger and Barbara Turner - 52 Years
| The Turners celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with more than 100 guests. A program was also planned. |
Clifford and Jane Sims
 | Clifford and Jane were married January 20th, 1953 at the Walnut Street Baptist Church in Carbondale. Rev. Bert Cherry married us. Cliff and I met on a blind date in January and was married in June that same year. Our children gave us a beautiful Golden Wedding Anniversary party at the F. B. C. in Harrisburg. There were 200 in attendance. Our daughter in-law made the cake and copied it from our wedding picture and it looked the same as the one 50 years ago. Love, Jane 
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Carroll and Gracie Fletcher - 55 years | Walter and Bessie Mae Davis - 52 years |
A. B. "Bud" and Aline Mifflin - 59 Years
Engagement Photo | 50th Wedding Anniversary |
Dale and Ruth Crockett
 |  We were married June 5, 1953 at the First Baptist Church of Marion. We were married by Dr. George Johnson. |
Joe and Nellie Claxton |
Dale and Ada Ann Clemens |
Larry and Phyllis Toler Larry and Phyllis Toler celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 19, 2004 |
Robert and Pat Bellinger This picture was taken the day of our anniversary as Robert and I looked at the book of letters, notes, pictures that had come in response to Ruth's request. I think tears rolled down the whole time. |
Charles and Marjorie Brim This picture was taken in 2005 after 62 years of marriage! | Darrel and Verona Highsmith |
Robert & Suzi Stuckey Now married 57 years!!! | Harlan & Barbara Highsmith |