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October 20, 1994
Watt
50th Anniversary
Dee “Bernice’ and John C. Watt celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary Sept. 17 at Westward Look. The party was hosted by Pam and Terry Thomson and Marsha Kay and Jim Blankenburg.
Bernice and John were married Sept. 16, 1944 in Elkton, Md. and have lived in Arizona 41 years. Bernice retired from the Tucson Citizen in 1979 and John retired from U. S. West in 1983.
They have two children, Karen Watt of Tucson and Pam Thomson of Mesa. They have four grandchildren.
At the reception, slides were shown of Kim singing Stardust. Guests came from Florida, Colorado and Iowa.
Thomas
60th Anniversary
Odell and Murrel Thomas of Benson plan on celebrating their sixtieth wedding anniversary with a festive dinner at a local restaurant. It will be hosted by their sons, Carroll and Jerry, and daughter-in-law, Deborah.
In making their plans for the occasion, a note of congratulations was received from President Clinton, who is from their home state of Arkansas. They were married Oct. 21, 1934 and lived 46 years in the St. David/Benson area. Mrs. Thomas is a homemaker and Mr. Thomas retired from Apache Powder Company of St. David.
They have seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Mayfield
55th Anniversary
Eleanor and Wiley Mayfield celebrated their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary Oct. 28 with a trip to Sedona and a visit with their daughter and son-in-law, Maggi and Don Burke, grandaughters Amy and Lee Ann Busboom, Stephanie Burke, Joy Weiermann and her husband Chris and the Mayfields’ great grandson Timmy.
They have two children: Margaret “Maggie’ Burke of Tucson and Mary Jo Pitts of Eugene, Ore. They have five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Sommer
70th Anniversary
Dorothy and Niels Sommer will celebrate their seventieth wedding anniversary with a luncheon party at Campana Del Rio where they live. Entertainment will be provided by the La Belle Trio and John Thomas.
They were married Oct. 18, 1924 and have lived in Arizona 43 years. They are now retired.
They have two children – Vivian D. Thomas and Glen Sommer – both of Tucson. They have six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Danner
50th Anniversary
Gladys and Henry “Hank’ Danner celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary by reaffirming their vows at Fountain of Life Lutheran Church. A reception followed at the Tucson Women’s Club hosted by their children.
They were married Sept. 30, 1944 in St. Paul, Minn. and now are retired. They have three children: Garry Danner of Portland, Ore., Carolyn Stamy of Libby, Mont., and Larna Lee of Tucson. They have seven grandchildren and one great-grandchildren.
Santa-Lucia
50th Anniversary
Margaret and Joseph Santa-Lucia celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a mass and renewal of vows at the chapel on MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The mass was preceded by a breakfast reception at the home of their son James and daughter-in-law Gudrun in Riverview, Fla. and was followed by a dinner reception at the MacDill Air Force Base Officers’ Club. The celebration was continued during outings to Epcot Center in Orlando and dinner and dancing on the Starlight Princess Dinner Cruise.
Gillam
50th Anniversary
Esther M. and Thomas J. Gillam celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a family dinner at Baron’s Restaurant with Nancy and David Gillam.
They were married Sept. 30, 1944 and have lived in Arizona 20 years. Mrs. Gillam is a retired homemaker and Mr. Gillam is a retired retail manager.
They have four children: David L., Douglas G. and Donald B. Gillam of Tucson and Kathy J. Gillam of Montgomery, Ala. They have five grandchildren.
Rupp
50th Anniversary
Helen and John Rupp celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a reception at the Sahuaro Baptist Church hosted by their children.
The Rupps were married Sept. 1, 1944 in Camden, S.C. and have lived in Arizona 16 years. Mrs. Rupp retired from the Suncrest Adult Home in Tucson. Mr. Rupp is the interim pastor of Thornydale Family Church.
They have five children: John Rupp, Jr., Paul David Rupp, Martha Macomber, Jean Kurek and Pam Elftman. They have 14 grandchildren.
Coombs
50th Anniversary
Jean and Robert Coombs celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with family and friends in Pinetop followed by a trip to Maui, Hawaii.
They were married Oct. 25, 1944 in Shelburne Falls, Mass. and have lived in Arizona 33 years.
They have two daughters, Kathleen Brilhart of Tucson and Colleen Hansen of Houston, Texas. They have four grandchildren.
The couple is retired from Tucson Unified School District #1.
Long
50th Anniversary
Marjorie “Margie’ L. Perrin was told by her mother never to accept rides from strangers. However, on a hot day in May of 1943, as she walked toward the main entrance to the UA, a handsome young man driving a black 1932 Ford with an SAE sticker offered her a ride. It seemed harmless. Little did she know that she was meeting her future husband, Barrington “Barry’ L. Long, for the first time.
This year on July 14 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They are former owners of Roy H. Long Realty, have four sons Randy, Rusty, Steven and Roy II and two grandchildren.
Funderburg
50th Anniversary
Mary and Ivan Funderburg celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary Aug. 26 at the Pantano Elks Lodge. They were married Aug. 25, 1944 in Huntington, Ind.
They had five children: John Funderburg, now deceased; and David, Debra and Bruce Funderburg and Gloria Smith all of Tucson. They have one grandchild, Joshua Paul.
Several friends from Indiana attended the reception including the Schenkels who were with the Funderburgs when they married 50 years ago.
Thompson
55th Anniversary
Tish and Sam Thompson celebrated their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary with an informal gathering of family and close friends at the home of their daughter, Nancy Dent. They were married Sept. 30, 1939 in Tazewell, Va.
Both are now retired. They had five children: Sam Thompson, Nancy Dent, Jim Thompson, Harman Thompson, all of Tucson, and the late Rees Bowen Thompson. They have eight grandchildren: Lori O’Leary, Bowen Thompson, Chad Dent, Alex Thompson, Kathryn Dent, Michael Thompson, Joanna Thompson and Robin Thompson.
Vaught
50th Anniversary
Dorothy and Ed Vaught celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a banquet-reception at Pantano Christian Fellowship Hall hosted by there children and grandsons. They also renewed their wedding vows.
They were married Oct. 15, 1944 in Bedford, Ind. and have lived in Arizona 35 years. Both are retired. Mrs. Vaught from Montgomery Ward and Mr. Vaught from C.T.I.
They have two children, Betty Blakeman and Larry Vaught, of Tucson. They also have five grandchildren.
Sousek
50th Anniversary
Marjorie and Lon Sousek celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a party at Western Way R.V. Resort Hall hosted by their daughters and friends. They were married Sept. 26, 1944 in Omaha, Neb.
Mrs. Sousek retired after 12 years with Denny’s Restaurant and Mr. Sousek retired from Shell Oil Company. They have two daughters: Donna Brown of Blanchard, Idaho and Margie Oney of Alvord, Texas. They have five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Barsness
50th Anniversary
Betty and Clarence Barsness celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a buffet reception at Santa Cruz Lutheran Church. They were married Oct. 17, 1944 in Faribault, Minn. and have lived in Arizona 41 years.
Both are retired. They have five children: Karen Barsness, Marcia Worrell, Randy Barsness and Tari Worley of Tucson and Dawn Pearson of Midlothian, Texas. They have nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
