5
When it snows we want to see how you’re having fun! Send us your photos of snowmen, snow forts or sledding fun. Share your snow photos with us, and we’ll run some in the newspaper and at www.ardmoreite.com. Send with your name and a daytime phone number to [email protected]. SEND US YOUR SNOW PHOTOS Offer expires February 28, 2011. Promotional rate quoted good for the first twelve months when New Customers subscribe to our Standard Cable, Standard Internet and Standard Phone services promotional bundle. Equipment, taxes and fees are not included in above rate. Offer is available through subscription with a 12-month agreement secured with a credit card or direct pay. In compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you may be required to authorize and agree that Cable ONE may obtain a consumer report about you from a consumer reporting agency in order to verify your eligibility to receive this and other offers. Cost savings based upon buying services individually. Other levels of service are available. Cable ONE manages speed and usage of Internet services to provide the best experience for all customers. Please read our Acceptable Use Policy for details. All services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. No. 7 MacArthur edges No. 3 Ardmore again — Page 1C SUNDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2011 SINCE 1893 54 PAGES $1.25 118th YEAR — NO. 91 BREAKING NEWS AT ARDMOREITE.COM ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA Beyond the robes Ardmore resident answers questions about spending time in the Middle East BY MARSHA MILLER MARSHA.MILLER@ARDMOREITE.COM Editor’s Note: In the Nov. 28 edition of The Ardmoreite, Beth Marshall, who with her husband, Jim, owns and operates a petro- leum engineering consulting firm in Ardmore, shared her story of traveling alone and working for more than a month in the Islamic country of Bahrain. At the time of the interview, Beth was prepar- ing to return to Bahrain, for the second stint of her consulting job. She promised when the job was over and she was home again she would answer reader questions about her adventure in the male dominated Muslim world. Here are her answers to your ques- tions. : What was the biggest change in the perception you had of Bahrain before you went there to work and now? A: “At first, the robes (Muslim attire) terrified me. The biggest change was getting beyond the robes. When I really started look- ing at people — teenage girls giggling and texting on their cell phones; men and women doing ordinary, everyday things — I re- alized these are just people like you and I.” Q: Did you buy an abaya (tra- ditional Muslin woman’s robe) as a memento? If you did buy a robe, did you ever wear it while you were in Bahrain? A: “Yes I did buy one. Abayas are handmade. I went to a shop and picked out the fabric I want- ed and the trim I wanted. Then they measured me, but were very careful not to actually touch me while they’re doing it. After that I was told to come back in an hour, which I did and it was ready.” “And, yes, I did wear it one time, when I visited the Grand Mosque (the largest place of worship in Bahrain). I wore it because it is required. It was an awesome experience and while I was there I found out that as long as I was accompanied by a Muslim woman, I could go into any mosque anywhere to pray because I am considered a ‘Per- son of the Book.’ A ‘Person of the Book’ is a Christian, Jew or Muslim, because all three faiths have the same Old Testament.” Q: Were you ever in a situation where you were confronted either because you were a woman or an American? A: “I was never directly con- fronted. Some men would act like they didn’t understand me or know what I wanted, but if a man asked for the same thing they would get it. There was some chauvinism, but it was subtle.” Q: What kinds of questions did people ask you? Did the women want to know what it was like to be a woman in America or have other questions? A: “I was always asking the women (who worked at the oil firm) questions about their cul- ture and I could tell some of them really wanted to ask me things but they were afraid to approach me. Above: In this photo taken by Beth Marshall, three Bahraini women walk along the street covered in abayas, a robe that covers the wearer from head to toe. Bottom left: Marshall in an abaya, after having one made for her. SUBMITTED PHOTO Q See BAHRAIN, 5A A rdmore S uicide S tAte L.G rove C M Y K Agriculture 14A Business 15A Classified 6-10C Comics 8B Digest 4A Education 10-11A Lifestyles 1-8B Obituaries 2A Opinion 8A Sudoku 4A Sports 1-5C Weather 2A Sunny High: 66 Low: 36 Home Delivery Ardmore (580) 223-2200 Outside Ardmore (800) 873-0211 Ardmore (580) 221-6505 or (580) 221-6593 Outside Ardmore (800) 873-0211 News Items Fax — (580) 226-0050 Fallin’s budget cuts on the table OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — If Oklahoma legislators elect to ignore Gov. Mary Fallin’s plan to shield ed- ucation, health care and public safety from deep cuts in next year’s bud- get, they’ll have to develop their own ideas for dealing with an expected $600 mil- lion shortfall. Fallin last week pre- sented her way of doing it — consolidate state agen- cies and services, shift to a two-year system on car tags and issue bonds to pay for transportation and other projects — but fiscal analysts fear all of her pro- jected cost savings won’t add up. That would leave it to lawmakers to make even more drastic cuts in state programs decimated by two years of dwindling revenues. “That’s exactly what will have to occur,” said Secre- tary of State Glenn Coffee, last year’s Senate president pro tem and now Fallin’s chief budget negotiator. “Ei- ther the Legislature comes up with alternative propos- als, or there will have to be deeper cuts.” Oklahoma is facing an anticipated budget short- fall of $600 million for the upcoming fiscal year, and Fallin in her budget calcu- lated savings of more than $270 million by consolidat- ing information technology, or IT, services at state agen- cies, imposing a hard hiring freeze on IT positions and streamlining other state services like purchasing and electronic payments. These proposals, com- bined with agency consoli- dations and other ideas, would let Oklahoma limit cuts to most agencies to about 5 percent, while holding cuts to education, health and public safety to around 3 percent, she said. The Department of Trans- portation would actually have its funding increased under Fallin’s plan. City looks at auto water system BY MICHAEL PINEDA MICHAEL.PINEDA @ARDMOREITE.COM LONE GROVE – The past two winter storms have played havoc with the city’s water wells. Twice, electrical failure shut down one of the wells. That problem, as well as others, have the city look- ing into the possibility of going to an automated sys- tem that would allow it to monitor its water supply from a central location. “The city council has asked me to look into it,” In- terim City Man- ager Ian O’Neal said. “In the long run, it would be beneficial to the city. You can control the water wells from the office and you can turn the wells on and off, moni- tor the water pressure and check the water levels in the towers. It’s pretty ex- pensive and I have just be- gun to contact companies and look into it.” The city is once again moving forward with plans to build a water treatment plant that will cost millions of dollars. But the expense of an automated system would pay off in the long run, according to O’Neal. “In one tower, we have to manually check if there is overflow and in another tower, the cable pulley sys- tem needs to be repaired because of damage in the last tornado that we had,” he said. Today, The Ardmoreite celebrates couples in hon- or of Valentine’s Day with our annual love stories submitted by readers. Sunday’s Lifestyles section contains photos and stories written by sweethearts of all ages. We wanted to start out with a unique story of how love can overcome any obstacle. Following is the story of Richard and Anna Wilson. We hope you find it, and our other True Love Tales, inspiring. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wilson As I entered the sixth-grade classroom at St. Ann’s School in Midland, Texas, in the fall of 1955, I noticed a newcomer to the meeting of our Oblate Club at St. Ann’s Church. The club was for unmar- ried parishioners, and commonly called “Father Kennedy’s Marriage Bureau,” because so many members had dated and later married. Our meeting had been moved from the cafete- ria, where there was plenty of room, to the grade- school classroom. The newcomer was sprawled from the small desk, long legs extending out into the aisle, and he had a white-bowl pipe between his teeth. True Love Tales BY MARSHA MILLER MARSHA.MILLER@ARDMOREITE.COM Ardmore police have re- leased photos and a physi- cal description of the un- identified man who died Wednesday night as the re- sult of a self-inflicted gun- shot wound. The photos were taken from security video cam- era footage just moments before the man entered a restroom at the Ardmore Walmart and shot himself. Police who responded to the report of a man with a gun- shot wound were unable to locate any documentation that would identify him. Anna and Richard Wilson See WILSON, 7A See WATER, 7A See MAN, 3A Police still seek identity Ardmore police are seek- ing the public’s help in identifying this man.

True Love Tales

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11A

When it snows we want to see how you’re having fun! Send us your photos of snowmen, snowforts or sledding fun.

Share your snow photos with us, and we’ll run some in the newspaper and at www.ardmoreite.com. Send with your name and a daytime phone number to [email protected].

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Offer expires February 28, 2011. Promotional rate quoted good for the first twelve months when New Customers subscribe to our Standard Cable, Standard Internet and Standard Phone services promotional bundle. Equipment, taxes and fees are not included in above rate. Offer is av ailable through subscription with a 12-month agreement secured with a credit card or direct pay. In compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you may be required to authorize and agree t hat Cable ONE may obtain a consumer report about you from a consumer reporting agency in order to verify your eligibility to receive this and other offers. Cost savings based upon buyin g services individually. Other levels of service are available. Cable ONE manages speed and usage of Internet services to provide the best experience for all customers. Please read our Accepta ble Use Policy for details. All services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.

No. 7 MacArthur edges No. 3 Ardmore again — Page 1C

SunDAYfebruArY 13, 2011

S i n c e1 8 9 3

5 4 pA g e S

$ 1 . 2 5 1 1 8 t h Y e A r — N o . 9 1 B r e A k i N g N e w s At A r d M o r e i t e . C o M A r d M o r e , o k l A h o M A

Beyond the robesArdmore resident answers questions

about spending time in the Middle EastBy Marsha [email protected]

Editor’s Note: In the Nov. 28 edition of The Ardmoreite, Beth Marshall, who with her husband, Jim, owns and operates a petro-leum engineering consulting firm in Ardmore, shared her story of traveling alone and working for more than a month in the Islamic country of Bahrain. At the time of the interview, Beth was prepar-ing to return to Bahrain, for the second stint of her consulting job. She promised when the job was over and she was home again she would answer reader questions about her adventure in the male dominated Muslim world. Here are her answers to your ques-tions.

: What was the biggest change in the perception you had of Bahrain before

you went there to work and now?A: “At first, the robes (Muslim

attire) terrified me. The biggest change was getting beyond the robes. When I really started look-ing at people — teenage girls giggling and texting on their cell phones; men and women doing ordinary, everyday things — I re-alized these are just people like you and I.”

Q: Did you buy an abaya (tra-ditional Muslin woman’s robe) as a memento? If you did buy a robe, did you ever wear it while you were in Bahrain?

A: “Yes I did buy one. Abayas are handmade. I went to a shop and picked out the fabric I want-ed and the trim I wanted. Then they measured me, but were very careful not to actually touch me while they’re doing it. After that I was told to come back in an hour, which I did and it was ready.”

“And, yes, I did wear it one time, when I visited the Grand Mosque (the largest place of worship in Bahrain). I wore it because it is required. It was an awesome experience and while

I was there I found out that as long as I was accompanied by a Muslim woman, I could go into any mosque anywhere to pray because I am considered a ‘Per-son of the Book.’ A ‘Person of the Book’ is a Christian, Jew or Muslim, because all three faiths have the same Old Testament.”

Q: Were you ever in a situation where you were confronted either because you were a woman or an American?

A: “I was never directly con-fronted. Some men would act like they didn’t understand me or know what I wanted, but if a man asked for the same thing they would get it. There was some chauvinism, but it was subtle.”

Q: What kinds of questions did people ask you? Did the women want to know what it was like to be a woman in America or have other questions?

A: “I was always asking the women (who worked at the oil firm) questions about their cul-ture and I could tell some of them really wanted to ask me things but they were afraid to approach me.

Above: In this photo taken by Beth Marshall, three Bahraini women walk along the street covered in abayas, a robe that covers the wearer from head to toe. Bottom left: Marshall in an abaya, after having one made for her.

submitted photo

Q

See Bahrain, 5A

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News items

fax — (580) 226-0050

Fallin’s budgetcuts onthe table

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — If Oklahoma legislators elect to ignore Gov. Mary Fallin’s plan to shield ed-ucation, health care and public safety from deep cuts in next year’s bud-get, they’ll have to develop their own ideas for dealing with an expected $600 mil-lion shortfall.

Fallin last week pre-sented her way of doing it — consolidate state agen-cies and services, shift to a two-year system on car tags and issue bonds to pay for transportation and other projects — but fiscal analysts fear all of her pro-jected cost savings won’t add up. That would leave it to lawmakers to make even more drastic cuts in state programs decimated by two years of dwindling revenues.

“That’s exactly what will have to occur,” said Secre-tary of State Glenn Coffee, last year’s Senate president pro tem and now Fallin’s chief budget negotiator. “Ei-ther the Legislature comes up with alternative propos-als, or there will have to be deeper cuts.”

Oklahoma is facing an anticipated budget short-fall of $600 million for the upcoming fiscal year, and Fallin in her budget calcu-lated savings of more than $270 million by consolidat-ing information technology, or IT, services at state agen-cies, imposing a hard hiring freeze on IT positions and streamlining other state services like purchasing and electronic payments.

These proposals, com-bined with agency consoli-dations and other ideas, would let Oklahoma limit cuts to most agencies to about 5 percent, while holding cuts to education, health and public safety to around 3 percent, she said. The Department of Trans-portation would actually have its funding increased under Fallin’s plan.

City looksat auto watersystemBy Michael Pinedamichael.pineda @ardmoreite.com

LONE GROVE – The past two winter storms have played havoc with the city’s water wells. Twice, electrical failure shut down one of the wells.

That problem, as well as others, have the city look-ing into the possibility of going to an automated sys-tem that would allow it to monitor its water supply from a central location.

“The city council has asked me to look into it,” In-terim City M a n -ager Ian O ’ N e a l said. “In the long run, it would be beneficial to the city. You can control the water wells from the office and you can turn the wells on and off, moni-tor the water pressure and check the water levels in the towers. It’s pretty ex-pensive and I have just be-gun to contact companies and look into it.”

The city is once again moving forward with plans to build a water treatment plant that will cost millions of dollars. But the expense of an automated system would pay off in the long run, according to O’Neal.

“In one tower, we have to manually check if there is overflow and in another tower, the cable pulley sys-tem needs to be repaired because of damage in the last tornado that we had,” he said.

Today, The Ardmoreite celebrates couples in hon-or of Valentine’s Day with our annual love stories submitted by readers. Sunday’s Lifestyles section contains photos and stories written by sweethearts of all ages.

We wanted to start out with a unique story of how love can overcome any obstacle. Following is the story of Richard and Anna Wilson. We hope you find it, and our other True Love Tales, inspiring.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard WilsonAs I entered the sixth-grade classroom at St.

Ann’s School in Midland, Texas, in the fall of 1955, I noticed a newcomer to the meeting of our Oblate Club at St. Ann’s Church. The club was for unmar-ried parishioners, and commonly called “Father Kennedy’s Marriage Bureau,” because so many members had dated and later married.

Our meeting had been moved from the cafete-ria, where there was plenty of room, to the grade-

school classroom. The newcomer was sprawled from the small desk, long legs extending out into the aisle, and he had a white-bowl pipe between his teeth.

True Love TalesBy Marsha [email protected]

Ardmore police have re-leased photos and a physi-cal description of the un-identified man who died Wednesday night as the re-sult of a self-inflicted gun-shot wound.

The photos were taken from security video cam-era footage just moments before the man entered a restroom at the Ardmore Walmart and shot himself. Police who responded to the report of a man with a gun-shot wound were unable to locate any documentation that would identify him.

Anna and Richard Wilson

See wilson, 7A

See water, 7A

See man, 3A

Police stillseek identity

Ardmore police are seek-ing the public’s help in identifying this man.

Page 2: True Love Tales

11B

The Ardmoreite, Sunday, February 13, 2011 www.ardmoreite.com 1B

LifestyLes

C

M

Y

K

True Love TalesCouples in southern Oklahoma

tell how they met, why they married and why their love has

survived the test of time.

The first day I “met” Kevin was on the orchestra school bus. I probably wouldn’t have no-

ticed him, except that he snatched a game from me.

My first impression — a skinny, rude boy and potential thief. After I grabbed my game back and told him off, I ignored him for the rest of the trip.

I realized, grudgingly, when I made it to high school, that this “Kevin” was only a couple of grades ahead of me and still playing cello. So, sadly, I would have to tolerate his presence. We almost entirely ig-nored each other, but occasionally, Kevin would still hassle me when he got bored.

One day, my best friend told me that she had been asked to prom by a senior. As sophomores, we weren’t allowed to go yet. The next thing she said was, “I don’t want to go alone! Find a date!” Unfortu-nately, it was already almost prom, so eligible juniors and seniors were slim pickings.

But then fate intervened. As I racked my brain to think of a date, any date, I walked to orchestra. I was getting out my violin when Kevin walked over to the boy next

to me. “Who are you taking to prom, Kevin?” He replied, “Prob-ably a blow-up doll. I don’t have a date.” I sat there debating which was worse — going to prom with Kevin or not attending at all? I decided I could ditch him as soon as I got there and find my friend. “Will you take me?” I interjected. Kevin gave me a bewildered look and asked, “Will you be nice?” After I assured him I would be, he said OK and I had my date. To my utter astonishment, I discovered dur-ing prom that Kevin was smart, funny and I actually enjoyed being around him. Before long, we were dating.

Our relationship lasted through his college years, my college years, illnesses, crises, fights and so many changes. I never dreamt when I met him that Kevin would become my best friend, the love of my life and now my husband. We mar-ried this November after seven years together. We support each other, annoy each other, but, most importantly, we love and respect each other. The coming years will be full of even more challenges, but I know we will get through them together.

Kevin Harris and Alyssa Sanders-HarrisMr. and Mrs. Kevin Harris

Penny and Bob Cline

I met Penny Stiner in 1948 when her family joined the church I attended. I was a senior at

Classen in Oklahoma City and she was a sophomore at Putnam City. We dated.

“Ain’t Love Great”

June 1950, the Korean War start-ed, I graduated and joined the U.S. Navy for a four-year tour of duty. I had a 30-day furlough. During this time, Penny and I saw a lot of each other. Penny graduated in May of 1952. For graduation, I sent her a one-way ticket to Hawaii. She left the next day to travel from Oklaho-ma City to Hawaii to marry a guy she had not seen in 11/2 years.

“Ain’t Love Great”

I’m the only one she knew at the wedding.

I was stationed at Barbers Point Ford Island, Pearl Harbour, cour-tesy of the U.S. Navy. We had a 11/2-year honeymoon in Hawaii.

Our first son was born during this time (Hawaii was not a state yet).

“Ain’t Love Great”

We came back to Oklahoma City in 1954. Our daughter was born that year, while I attended Central

State University in Edmond and Penny took care of the kids.

“Ain’t Love Great”

My first full-time job was with the YMCA in Seattle, Wash., and in 1958, our third child was born. Penny had her hands full raising kids. Once the kids got in school, she pursued her own nursing ca-reer and began working full time.

“Ain’t Love Great”

We came to Ardmore in 1971 and been here ever since.

We decided to have our 50th an-niversary in Ardmore and hosted our family reunion at the same time (Penny’s side) in 2002.

Of course, we had a Hawaiian theme, songs, flowers, leis and aloha shirts. My best man of 50 years ago did his same job. Penny’s longtime school friend was there. Penny’s brother (minister) performed the vow renewals. All the family that missed the first vows were there.

“Ain’t Love Great”

After three children, two grand-children and four great-grandchil-dren, we are still growing strong. On May 28, 2011, we will have been married 59 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Cline

In the summer of 1959 a family moved to the cotton fields of eastern Arkansas and started

attending the church where my family attended.

My first memories of Linda were of her sitting in this old country church pew with her family. It was “puppy love” at first sight. We were both 12 years old and started sitting together in church holding hands. Through the years, we at-tended youth events together and eventually dated.

We dated all through high school and got married three weeks after I graduated. We were both a whop-ping 18 years old now and headed off to college on a football scholar-ship.

Those early years in college with almost no earthly material goods were wonderful years because we had to depend on God and each other. Our first child was born dur-ing our second year of college and, although times were tough, our love for each other and our little one grew stronger.

After college, I spent 20 years

serving our nation in the U.S. Army. During those years, our love ma-tured through the birth of two more children and the rigors of military service.

But God was faithful through all the challenges while serving stateside, in Turkey, Germany and in Korea. The separations strength-ened our marriage and made us appreciate every moment we have together.

For the last 21-plus years, after retiring from the military, we have served in the ministry. God has blessed us with almost 46 years of marriage. But we have been an “item,” as the young folks call it today, for almost 54 years.

If someone had told me 55 years ago that I would love her more after all these years I would not have believed them — but I do. We have learned that when God is our number one priority, everything else falls into its right place.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Linda. We will be Forever Together!

Gene and Linda Nichole Thompson

Page 3: True Love Tales

“Son, She’ll never stay out there at the ranch head-

quarters. She’ll just never stay.”

Those words of advice were given to my dad, Don Howard, by his father when Don said he was going to marry Vella Key Mathers.

Don and Vella did come from two different worlds. Don’s family had moved to Oklahoma Territory from Spanish Fort, Texas, to farm and ranch in the Ringling and Claypool area. Don lived with ranch hand bud-dies at the headquarters, about 12 miles west of Ring-ling. Vella lived and worked in Oklahoma City, the granddaughter of two no-table southern Oklahomans, J.H. “Foot” Dillard (Ardmore oilman) and James H. Mathers (Ardmore’s first county attorney).

But their worlds in-tersected when Don’s older brother, Paul, married Vella’s older half-sister, Carlene.

Friendship blossomed in the early 1940s. Due to gas rations, Vella often hitched a ride to Ringling on the truck that brought cattle up to the Oklahoma City Livestock Auction. She enjoyed week-ends with the Howard clan, returning to OKC either on the bus or the early Mon-day-morning cattle truck headed to auction.

Don had an agriculture deferment the first years of World War II. However, he was in his early 20s and felt his patriotic duty was to en-list in the Army. He served in combat in the Philippines and then in the occupation-al forces in Japan. During the two years he was gone, Vella did her patriotic duty by writing to her soldier friend and encouraging him to come home safely. He re-turned in September 1946.

On Christmas Eve, 1946, Don and Vella planned to get married. Paul and Car-lene would be their witness-es. The Ringling Methodist pastor had agreed to do the service at his house late in the afternoon.

On a gray, snowy, after-noon, the small wedding party made their way to the parsonage. But parked on the side street was a famil-iar beat-up old pickup truck full of Don’s ranch hand buddies. They were lying in wait for Don.

A man couldn’t get hitched without a proper shivaree. These good old boys had a great shivaree planned for Don — an icy dunk in Howard Lake! Who cared that is was one of the coldest weeks on record (late December 1946/Janu-ary 1947)?

When the guys were spot-ted, Paul drove back home. After several hours, the good old boys gave up and figured that Vella had come to her senses and cancelled the wedding. But the wed-ding party returned to the parsonage about midnight and knocked on the door until a sleepy-eyed preacher came and preformed the ceremony.

Every year, when the family gathers for Christ-mas dinner, Dad proposes a toast to Mom. This year he said, “Vella, happy 64th anniversary. Honey, I hope you’ll stay at least one more year!”

22B

True Love Tales2B www.ardmoreite.com The Ardmoreite, Sunday, February 13, 2011

Archie and George Ann Allen

I am George Ann (Steele) Allen. I grew up 14 miles south of

Ringling at Orr. When I was 15, my dad and mother would let me drive our red pickup in to Ring-ling on Saturday night.

All the kids and grownups would come to our house. Kids would be hanging out all over it. I would stop and pick up everyone that was on the road into town. If you had money enough, you could go to the show early or to the Preview. Every-one was trying to find a parking place to visit with their friends and all the stores stayed open until about 10 p.m.

My girlfriend, Christine Thomas, and I were walk-ing across the street. Arch and his girlfriend and my aunt and her friend stopped to say hello. Arch asked my aunt who I was. He said, “I remember her when she was a little girl.” Arch was raised at Atlee southwest of Ringling. There was just a grade school, Atlee, Center Point and Union Hill. My moth-er, Anna (Roberts) Steele taught school at Union Hill. My dad drove his

truck to Center Point and picked up the kids. Arch rode his horse to Center Point and rode to school at Orr with my dad.

The next Saturday night, he was in town looking for me, but I didn’t know him. Christine and I

decided to go to Healdton to the Preview. This car wanted us to stop, Arch got out of his car and said park your pickup at the Y and let’s go to Healdton and get a Coke.

Joe Hub Collier was with him. I told Christine

I bet Arch wanted a date with her, because I didn’t know him. Arch got out and opened the door for me and said, “George Ann, you get in the front with me.” That’s the beginning of our love story.

We dated for about six months and Arch asked me to marry him. I was 16 in December and he was 32. We married March 24, 1945. After about two weeks, we told mother and dad. Arch had worked for his dad all his life. One day Arch’s dad said, “Arch, I know you are married.” He said, “I want you to keep working for me,” and he stayed with him for a long time.

We were married 56 years. I loved him so much. He was the love of my life. Our children, Pug and Vicki, and grandchil-dren, Amber, Shane and Dustin, think their dad and papa hung the moon. I still look for him to come home every day. Arch died Aug. 28, 2001. He worked so hard for his family, We had a good life. Thanks be to God.

Mr. and Mrs. Archie Allen

Mr. and Mrs. Don HowardDon and Vella Howard

By Hazel Bell NicHolas

On Sept. 26, 1915, W.R. Roberson

and Lillie Simmons were married; results of a Val-entine, cut from a newspaper in 1914.

I am the 94-year-old firstborn, re-sulting from their union, performed in Marysville, Texas, 96 years ago.

I saw, felt and was amazed at their strong bond of love that was a 50-year celebra-tion Sept. 26, 1965, at their home in Marietta.

My father died at the age of 71 and my mother followed on April 10, 1970.

On Feb. 12, 1969, “Country Boy” used my poem, “An Old Valentine,” for his caption for the Monday Morning Poetry Corner in The Daily Oklaho-man.

I lived in Purcell at the time and my name was not Nicholas.

After my mother died, this cut-out valentine was found in her trunk of memories. It was so old and faded, but I had it lami-nated.

Papa was the romantic kind of fellow and sub-stituted Lillie for Mayme and signed Willie, where the Calentine wrote, “I love you.”

I am a “used-to-be” freelance writer (stacks of evidence) and my today writing includes a 21-year volunteer column, VOICES From Lake Country Nursing Center for The Marietta Moni-tor, the place of my volunteer service these 21 years plus.

I just needed to tell you a bit of a love story that had been an inspiration for me a lifetime (and the Old Valen-tine, together with the “Old cowpunch-er” who wrote it, long ago: the imag-ined picture by the writer).

I am the only daughter of this couple.

W.R. and Lillie

Simmons Roberson

Marci and Tracy ‘Tank’ Campbell

I needed someone that could “un-derstand” me. I needed someone that could “relate” to me. I needed

someone that could “get” me. I knew when Marci and I first start-

ed talking in 2003, she was it. What I didn’t know was the long similar road we both had to travel to reach that point.

We had gone parts of middle school and high school together, never look-ing at each other romantically. We both went our separate ways after school and eventually found ourselves once again single, this time with kids.

Finding someone that loved me for who I was and could love my kids, that was what I was looking for, that is what I needed. Marci seemed to be the perfect fit. It is always easy to see a person on the outside, digging deeper and getting on the inside of them is the challenge. With Marci, I knew from the start where she stood. I knew what she stood for. I knew what she needed.

We married on a beautiful site in Tishomingo that overlooked the golf course with our kids by our side. I still

look at those pictures and think how far we have grown as a family and as a couple. It is a day that I will never forget, and to have our kids as part of it will make my heart smile forever.

We often laugh about my eighth-grade yearbook, the one I dug out when we first started dating so I could show my kids what Marci looked like back in the day. In the back, you find her nice, little, end-of-the-year comments that we often did in each other’s yearbooks.

“Tracy, To the stud of the year. You are so cute and sweet. I know that all the girls next year will go crazy over you. I know that you will miss me when I move to California. I’ll write you if you give me your address. Love Ya Lots, Marci.”

It was a long road for both of us to get to this point, and when I look at her every day and when I look at those pictures, I thank God and tell myself, “I did it. I found someone that loves me unconditionally, I found someone who … ‘got’ me.”

Tracy “Tank” CampbellLuckiest Husband in the World

Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Campbell and family

If there was a Husband Class, Steve should be the teacher! We met 29

years ago through a mutual friend. On our first date, I left him sitting at the table while I stayed in the ladies room most of the time think-ing, “I do not want to be here. I am fine just the way my life is.”

If it wasn’t for Steve’s per-sistence, we would probably not be together today and I would have missed out on the best relationship a girl could have. It is Steve’s joke that if he was not dogmatic to win me over, we probably would have blown 29 great years together.

The kids call me spoiled. I call me lucky. There is never anything I need that he will not provide to the best he can. In 29 years, I have never pumped my own gas. I’m not even sure I know how (but know I need to learn). I have never had to get an oil change, run to the store for a last-minute meal, things like that. He seems to take care of everything.

I have never had to worry about much. He does enough of that for both of us, but he will never complain when things are tough. He is the type of guy who will help anyone. I mean, anyone — not just our family. I have seen him drop a $5 bill be-hind someone less fortunate than us and tell that person, “Hey buddy! I think you dropped something.” just to show respect and let that person have some dignity.

He will buy his clients (he’s a counselor) a coat when it is cold, shoes if theirs are falling apart, a turkey for Thanksgiving, etc. ... all out of his own pocket. When the kids need help in anyway, Steve is the first one there to do whatever he can. I could write a book on the good this man does. And in all these years, he never ceases to amaze me.

When we first got togeth-er, things were hard raising two kids, but Steve took a second job on weekends to make sure we had food and the bills were paid. He was in college at the time, but wound up putting everything on hold to raise the family.

He got his master’s degree when he was 49 years old and his licensure 18 months later by holding down a full-time job and part-time school. But it was that dog-matic personality of his that made it all happen.

He tells the story that the first day he saw me, he knew I was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He told his friend, “You HAVE to introduce me to her.” I just smile because I know I could have lost out on this wonderful man, but I thank God every day for his determination to make that happen.

We are never apart, we are best friends and soul mates. We know each other so well, we even think alike. He has a never-ending way of always showing his love for me. A long time ago, I read the quote, “I’d rather live one moment with you than an eternity without you,” and today, that is our creed.

Ours may not be the most exciting story to read, but it’s OUR story and we will live happily ever after, thanks to his persistence 29 years ago!

Steve and Kathy Hyden

Steve Hyden

Mary Kate and Cade Wilson

I met the love of my life on my doorstep. Literally.

I was hosting a party for friends who were moving. A friend of mine knew that Cade had recently moved back to town to practice veterinary medicine.

She had not seen or talked to him for more than 10 years, but that didn’t stop her. She called the emergency number listed for the clinic and, luckily, he was the one who an-swered. She reminded him who she was and invited him to the party.

My girlfriends and I didn’t think he would show. After all, it was a strange house and there would only be one person he knew who he hadn’t seen for more than 10 years.

After waiting until an hour after the party started and driving around the block once, he rang the doorbell and I answered. We chatted off and on all

evening and he was one of the last to leave the party.

The next week we went on our first date — dinner at Interurban and a drive out to Lake Murray to watch the sunset. We saw each other almost every day after that.

Six months later, while eating dinner in the same booth at Interurban, Cade got down on one knee and

asked me to marry him. Within 11 months of that night when he rang my doorbell, we said “I do.”

It has been almost five years, and I love him more with each passing year. God has blessed our relationship from the moment our friend Amber decided to take a chance on a phone call.

After all, you only live once!

Dr. and Mrs. Cade Wilson

Page 4: True Love Tales

33B

True Love Tales www.ardmoreite.com 3BThe Ardmoreite, Sunday, February 13, 2011

Charles and Dana Dabbert

When I was 10 years old, my family moved from Ardmore to Los Angeles,.

We attended a small church of 100 people. It was called “The Evange-listic Tabernacle.”

When I was 18, I was consid-ered a ruffian. One Sunday, the most beautiful girl I had ever seen started attending our church.

She was innocent looking, dressed immaculately and was a living doll. I thought she was too classy for me, but a few months later, she and I were paired together for a date to see Billy Graham’s first crusade in

a tent in L.A.After that date, we both were

in love. Her name was Betty June Wilbanks, from Missouri, an only child. We began to see each other every day and I told my parents I found the girl I was going to marry. My mom and dad agreed she was perfect. We dated for five months, then got married while both of us were teenagers.

Our church friends said it would not last because I was a ruffian and she was an angel. We fooled them as we celebrate our 61st anniversary on March 11, 2011. Our first child,

Alan, was born on Valentine’s Day. Our other children are Kathleen, Charleen and Dennis. We also have 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In 1972, after a career in the Los Angeles Sheriff ’s Department and starting two businesses, Betty and I moved to Ardmore. We have been members of the First Baptist Church for 38 years.

Ask me what the secret of a long and happy marriage is and it is to marry a Christian and God will bless your marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Moore

Curtis and Sylvia Moore

Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Moore

I wrote this poem to my husband, Curtis Moore, in December 2010 for our 41st anniversary. Lots of memories from 41-plus years together.

There have been hard times, as well as good times, but in all, I would do it all over again.

We started out as two young kids, and now there is a daughter, Jaree; a son, Scott; and five grand-children, Maranda, Allie, Katie, Cody and Tyler. And we couldn’t have the grandchildren without our daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and an ex-son-in-law, Randy. What a ride we’ve been on for 41 years!

Curtis and Sylvia Moore were married Dec. 20, 1969, at Lighthouse Assembly of God Church in Ardmore.

The night I met you was a special night … A Sunday in the Spring of 1969.

You were with Terry and y’all got into my car. I thought you looked mighty fine!

We talked awhile & you put on my wig … You acted silly like you were a girl.

We laughed a lot and enjoyed our time. You gave me quite a whirl.

A few days later on Lake Murray Drive, I looked up and who did I see?

It was you going past, you stopped, backed up, all the while you were looking at me.

Soon we were going everywhere together, Fun times for you and me.

Then I lost my daddy, and I’ll never forget the tears in your eyes I did see.

That time really bonded me to you, for you knew too well what I was feeling.

The loss of my daddy at such a young age had sent me virtually reeling.

I needed your shoulder to lay my head on and I needed your kiss on my brow.

I knew I liked you way before, but I began to re-ally like you more now.

Wasn’t too long until you asked for my hand. For me to be your wife.

I asked for a week to pray about it. That was the biggest decision of my life.

I knew my answer was going to be “yes.” You were the one God made for me.

I think from the beginning it was certain to hap-pen,

Our marriage was what was meant to be.Flowers, pictures, preacher, bridesmaids … To

put it together ... how could I remember?In a short time we went from friends, to getting

married in DecemberI stood beside you feeling such a glow, and know-

ing I was in God’s plan.I was your bride that 20th of December and you

were my very “best” man.Forty-one years. That’s a long, long time …

That’s the years I’ve been wed to you.And although it is a few years ago, I’ll never

forget the day we said “I Do.”

Mr. and Mrs. Leo Chaney

Our love story is a beautiful one and we would like to share it with you. It shows

that through faith, patience and determination anything is pos-sible.

Frank was getting ready for retirement in January 2001 as a branch chief at Tinker Air Force Base and, having been single for 20 some years, he was wishing he had a mate to share it with.

He decided to join a singles group, of which I belonged, and our first date was a dinner date. We shared stories and found that we had a lot in common and I, too, was near retirement.

I had been a widow for 19 years and had prayed for a man of great faith, good character, good pro-vider and a family man.

In the fall of 2001, Frank was

diagnosed with prostate cancer and was in for several months of radiation and treatment. Through this time, we realized that God had really put us together for love and support.

Several years ago, Frank was a home builder and, as part of his healing process, he decided to build some homes in Lone Grove with an old friend.

He loved being closer to Lake Texoma, so he popped the ques-tion to me in 2003 and asked how I would like building a home in Lone Grove and making this our home and of course I said YES.

I retired from BHB Grocery Corp., where I had worked many years as administrative/assistant and office manager.

We married in 2004 and our new home was completed in 2005.

We started the process of selling both our homes in Oklahoma City and consolidating our treasures of many years.

To have aspirations of finding a new church equal to the one we attended in Oklahoma City seemed impossible, but we are so blessed to have found that church in First Baptist in Ardmore.

Frank is an avid fisherman, Harley rider, loves to study the Bible and many other hobbies. I love gardening, shopping, study-ing the Bible, entertaining and we both love to travel.

Our families blended beauti-fully. We have three children, one in Bogota, Columbia, one in Hono-lulu and one in Rockwall, Texas; seven grandchildren; and a bichon frise named Boomer.Mr. and Mrs. Frank Diehm

Frank and JJ Diehm

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dabbert

Worked at the bowling alley making extra

fundsThe girls they came

and went literally tons.

Then one night I looked up as she glided cross the floor

Hurried over just in time to block her at the door.

Said, Hey cute chick, where you goin’ aren’t you gonna bowl?

I reached up, felt my cheek to see if she had bored a hole.

Y’all must be hard up to have to kidnap people at the doors.

Next thing you know they’ll have you wrestling folks to the floor.

I’m sorry, didn’t think, guess I’m get-ting sleepy and tired.

I hope you won’t mention this to the boss it might get me fired.

Naw, been watchin kinda close for some-one I might want to meet.

You have some pretty good moves, especially with those spikes on your feet.

You weren’t lookin at spikes, when I turned round, better watch your step.

Next thing you know you’ll be on the floor hollerin’ for help

I sure do like that yellow dress, it sets off the pretty color of your hair

Sure does fit you nice, made you enter with quite a flare.

This color’s called strawberry blonde, glad you like it but it’s not mine, a wig

With that she wheeled round, headed for the door, playin’ hard to get in that rig

I yelled hey didn’t get your name and number for my brother when he comes

That was my excuse, but I’d use them my-self or else be a chump

I finally did per-suade her to go out on a dinner date with friends

Then felt embar-rassed because every time we looked up we had a table full of grins

The minute the engine was off she headed for her door which soon was a run

I tried to catch up, find out if she enjoyed herself and had any fun

Well, here it is 50 years later, still trying to find out if she had fun on our first date

She finally told me she usually didn’t date old men, but would give me a pretty good rate

We’ve lived a great life and not one thing would I change

boy if she had on that wig, dress, those spikes she’d be com-pletely out of my range.

While growing up as a teenager, my fa-ther had told me

that one day, when I least expect, it I would meet a very special woman and fall in love and, as usual, he was right. I listened, but never gave it much thought until the evening of Nov. 19, 2009, when I first saw the woman I would fall deeply in love with.

She caught my eyes and held my attention as she walked past me. I spoke, hoping as many men do that I don’t say anything unintelligent. She grinned and smiled as she walked by and, the next thing I knew, we were talking for the rest of the evening.

As we had our first date, I knew from the beginning that there was something different and very special about her. Trying my best to impress her, we went several places, but one in particular was Fort Washita. That is where I had discovered that she has a passion for history.

But one thing I didn’t want was for the evening to end, as I enjoyed being around her and getting to know her. Well I guess I did things right, as I got

another date. And, after many memories shared to-gether, I realized that she is the one I had been look-ing for these past years.

When I was away from her, I couldn’t stop think-ing of her, such as how she puts me and my teenage son first and how wonder-ful she treats us. I have even received flowers at work and she leaves me notes to let me know she is thinking of me.

So I had decided to ask her father the most impor-tant question one could ask a father and even had her family involved in on the proposal.

She never expected a thing and I could tell she would make a wonderful wife. But even moreso, a gorgeous bride. Her father is a pastor and it was held at a small country church. It was a wonder-ful wedding and the poem she wrote for me at the reception brought tears to almost everyone there, including me. I see the love she has for me on a daily basis.

My darling Karen, this is for you and thank you for all you do for me. With much love, your husband, Jeff.

Karen and Jeff Atkinson

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Atkinson

Leo and Betty Chaney

Page 5: True Love Tales

I met my present husband, Larry L. Roberts, on Feb. 29,

1964. The church I attend-

ed, The Salvation Army, was having a Leap Year party at Buzzard’s Roost at Lake Murray.

My friend, Lila Mae Roberts, had invited her son, Larry, to go and he wanted to know if there would be any girls there. She informed him there was a new girl at the church, so Larry went.

We were boyfriend and girlfriend for about one year. Notice I didn’t say we dated — he was 20 and I was 16. During that time, Larry was drafted into the U.S. Army.

While he was in Ger-many, I was in Ardmore attending high school. We wrote quite fre-quently during his tour in Germany.

It was during this time that a military plane crashed into the mountain on Goddard ranch. Troops from Fort Sill had been sent to search and rescue and then to clean up. Since I attended The Salva-tion Army, I was there also serving sandwiches and hot coffee. I met a young man at the site and felt I couldn’t live without him, so we married in August 1966, while Larry was in Germany.

Bob and I lived in Tulsa and, out of that

union, a beautiful daughter was born. Bob was a carpenter and was employed by Jim Walter Homes. He had been asked to come to Ardmore and work on a construction site, so he asked me if I and our daughter wanted to come with him. We did. After a few days, he took us to Whittington Park, gave me a dollar and said he would be back after he picked up supplies. He never came back! My daughter was

11 months old at the time.

I had 20 cents left, so I called Larry’s house. His stepdad answered the phone, cussed me out and hung up on me. Later I called back, and Larry answered the phone. His first words to me were, “Where are you?”

Larry came for us. I was given a second chance with the love of my life. May 10, 2011, we will celebrate our 42nd anniversary.

My Name is David, and our story began in Ardmore

in October 1992. I was a single father of three girls.

Some friends introduced me to Stacey, who was a single mother of two. We met and begin to date, although it was rather hard with five children. My children are Naomi, who was 14; Nikki, who was 9; and Jessica, who was 6. Stacey had Chris, who was 5; and Jennifer, who was 9 months old. We discussed our future and we both wanted to go to college. In the spring of 1993, we both enrolled in college through Murray State at the Ar-dmore Higher Education Center.

When it was time to graduate, we decided to get married. I mentioned to her that it sure would be neat to get married in class. We asked our professor, who in turn asked the dean of the college.

We were married in the Marriage and Fam-ily Relationship class. It was covered by The Daily Ardmoreite (05-01-1994, page 1B). The entire class was told to dress for a special guest, and we were married by the Rev. Gene

Cormier in the class. We had four newspapers,

and two television stations there, but, unfortunately, this was the night that the big tornado hit Ardmore. Only one reporter from the Ardmoreite decided to stay for our ceremony.

The next spring, Stacey, the five children, and I moved to Ada to continue with our education. In 1994, Stacey and I both graduated with our Bach-elor of Arts in Counseling from East Central Univer-sity.

We started our ca-reers as drug-and-alcohol

counselors in west Texas. I legally adopted Chris and Jennifer, and now our blended family was com-plete. Like most marriages, we have had our ups and downs, but our one con-stant is our love for each other.

As our youngest is now in her second semester of college, Stacey and I are beginning a new chapter in our lives. We hope to be able to spend time with our children, and three (with one the way) grand-children. This year, we will celebrate our 17th year together.

4B

True Love Tales4B www.ardmoreite.com The Ardmoreite, Sunday, February 13, 2011

Mr. and Mrs. David Loughridge and family

Cartez and Jewel Allen

I had known my husband for quite a while. We had

been around each other while double dating with friends.

I hadn’t paid too much attention to him until one day, a group of us went to the the-ater at Healdton. I sat by him. Well, he kissed me and that was all it took for me to fall in love.

We went together for about six months. We married at the Baptist parsonage in Ringling, Okla., on Feb. 6, 1943. We were married for about six months and he went into the Army. When he left, I followed the train as far as I could go, crying all the way.

We have been mar-ried now for almost 68 years. We had two sons and our oldest went to be with the Lord about five months ago.

My husband has been in Ardmore Veteran’s Center for a year now. I miss him terribly. He has lost both legs and is on dialyses three days a week. I go over and visit him four days a week.

I am totally lost with-out him. He is 87 and I am 85 years old. I love him so much. I just want to hug and squeeze him all the time.

Cartez, our love story is still being written daily.

I’m sending all my

love to you with this letter.

Love,Jewel Allen

Mr. and Mrs. Cartez Allen

Have you heard the old adage “Opposites attract?”

In our relationship this is truly a fact!

I’m the rambunctious one never slowing down.

We were married and raised our kids before John knew they were around.

People that know me know that talking is my fame,

But we dated six months before I even knew John’s name.

He’s laid back and easygo-ing.

My boat’s always in the water and never stops row-ing.

Fluttering about and stay-ing busy is my trend,

But he can sit at the com-puter for hours on end.

I’ve tried for years to change him but to no avail.

No matter how hard I’ve coaxed, His ship just won’t set sail!

Finally I’ve decided that his ship doesn’t have to sail like mine,

Just as long as we’re together when we reach the finish line!

I think that opposites are purposely placed together

to help balance between sunshine and stormy weather.

True love isn’t found on the first day you meet,

It’s found in a lifetime of hard work and defeat.

After 40 years what more can I say?

I’m thankful to have the love of my life and my best friend at the end of every day!

David and Stacey Loughridge

My husband, Bill, and I met at the end of 1990

through mutual friends. I moved away to Tulsa for a few months, but we kept in touch through handwritten letters and by phone.

I remember telling my friend, Mary, that he was going to make someone a good husband one day.

When I moved back to Ardmore, I began dating someone, but Bill was always coming around. I had a feeling that he wanted to be more than friends, but I wasn’t sure if that’s what I wanted. As time went on, my feelings for him started to change.

One night after driving around the lake, I asked him if he wanted to kiss me. The rest is history! We became a couple on Dec. 22 1991, got engaged in February and married in May.

With only five months of dating, being married was an adjustment, for sure. We had only been married four months when a fire destroyed our little rent house. We lost pretty much everything, including my wedding bouquet, but we were thankful for the things we could salvage.

This was a hard time for us, but we made it through. Little did we know that our love and faith would get us through much harder times to come.

We wanted a baby, but after many months of try-ing and many more visits to doctors, we were told we may never have one of our own. This was very hard news for us to take, but we had support from our family, friends and church family and lots of prayers went up.

Seven years later, God answered those prayers by giving us a perfect little girl who we named Hannah. We will al-ways be thankful for our miracle.

During the past 19 years, we have shared lots of love and laughter and even shed some tears, but our love for each other and our faith in God has kept us together. I don’t regret for one minute giv-ing our love a chance. We have been blessed with a wonderful life.

Melissa and Bill West

Mr. and Mrs. Bill West

The Rambos

As a little girl, all I ever dreamed of was finding my

knight in shining armor, raising a family and growing old together. I gave up that dream after a decade of bad relationships and failed attempts at pregnancy.

Through it all, I had a dear friend who was always there to listen and turn my tears into laughter. We spent a lot of time together and one day it was like the fog

was lifted and I could see what was right in front of my face.

My best friend is now my husband and we are raising two beautiful children together! We have not had a perfect life. We have had many struggles to face be-cause of racial issues, but prayers are being answered and I got my happily ever after.

My advice to anyone out there looking for love — don’t give up!

John and Rose Chaney

Joan and Murray Greisman

Mr. and Mrs. Larry L. Roberts

Frances and Larry L. Roberts

Mr. and Mrs. Murray Greisman

We met at a dance in ’57, Here we are in

2011.Dancing our Dance, All these 53 years.Laughing a lot,And shedding some

tears.Never thinking it

would last this long,“All the Way” was our

Wedding song.

Who knows where the road will lead us?

Only a fool can say, But if I’m gonna love

you,It’s no good unless I

love you,“All the Way”!— Married June 22,

1958