70 Long Years...

It's not every day that you get to attend a 70th wedding anniversary, but when you do, you find yourself surrounded by seventy years of love and wonderful memories.

How did they get to where they are today? That is, of course, other than love, patience, and understanding?

It all started out with, well, popcorn. Yes, freshly popped corn, served by one of the town's prettiest girl's, Ernetta. Ernetta worked the popcorn stand in town for locals attending the show or just craving a snack. One local who had a salty tooth was Leonard. When asked how much he spent on popcorn that summer, he declined to comment.

In September of 1939, a year after Leonard worked up the courage to ask Ernetta out, the happy couple, along with Len's brother and wife headed to St. Louis. Not realizing that this weekend would be the weekend they embarked into a 70 year long journey, they found themselves in front of the justice of the peace saying, "I Do."

After getting married, Leonard was shipped off to fight in WWII. The war would keep him away from his bride for four years. While her husband was away, Ernetta took over Len's job at the Progress. Seven other women welded alongside Ernetta while their husbands were at war. Not only did these woman fill their husbands shoes, they helped the men in battle by welding gas cans for the army and navy.

Leonard returned home on the Queen Elizabeth in 1945. The couple lived next door to where they do today. In August of 1951 they welcomed a baby girl into their lives, Joyce Lynett. Ernetta had dreamed of having a little girl named Joyce Lynett. After twelve years of trying, her dream came true. This moment was described as the happiest for the couple in all seventy years. It was in 1953 that they began to build their current home together. After nine months, and weekly payments to the crew, Leonard was able to carry Ernetta across their new threshold.

The couple are definitely not strangers around town, some know Lenoard from his milk route in the 50's, some remember the drinks he poured as a bartender, some welded right along the side of him at the Progress where he would later retire after twenty-five years. Many have called upon Leonard's Carriage services for rides into town or the family doctor, but most know him from his friendly wave while coasting down Vine St. in his gray El Camino. The town knows Ernetta from her work at Ben Franklin, or The Villa for those 12 years of ward-robing customers. Others know her from her time volunteering at the Christian church or calling bingo at the nursing home.

Throughout the years, they have stayed true to their roots, to their town, and to their street, for that matter! It is today that Leonard, Ernetta, and the entire family would like to thank all of you for sharing in the seventy years of wonderful memories. Whether you have known them since they were married or just met them this year, you can tell that this is a couple where love, family, and friendships (with a side of stubbornness) comes first.

Happy Anniversary Grandma & Grandpa!