Love Story

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Donna Worcester and Melvin King lived just down the street from each other when they were kids in the 1940s.

But they didn’t actually meet until 1955, when Donna’s uncle asked the two if they would work together for a month at his veterinary office in Renton while he visited Kansas.

Melvin worked in the kennel while Donna worked in the office. She also cooked lunch for Melvin, who also worked the night shift at Boeing.

Although Donna was going out with someone else at the time, she still liked Melvin.

“Well, I thought he was a pretty nice boy,” Donna said. “He had spent four years in the Navy and hadn’t been out very long.”

One day, Melvin was watching the World Series while Donna cooked. They were talking about marriage, and Melvin said that he wasn’t going to get married. Donna said, as she stuck her head in the pantry, that Melvin would be married in a year, even if she had to marry him herself.

The couple worked together for the month, then met again a few months later at a birthday party. They started going steady after that.

Donna and Melvin King of Snohomish will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at their home.

They were married March 10, 1956, at Lutheran Church in South Seattle.

Melvin proposed to Donna while they were driving through a snowstorm. It was around Chehalis when Melvin asked Donna if she would marry him.

“I said, ‘I guess so’,” Donna said.

About six weeks later, they were married.

Donna says that the past 50 years have gone by quickly. The couple have six children, 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Donna and Melvin have a lot in common. They’ve enjoyed camping and getting together with family.

Donna is quick-tempered, and Melvin is laid-back.

“We always made up,” she said.

They’ve been together so long that Donna will think of something, and Melvin will say it.

For couples starting out, Donna advises not giving up and being good examples to their children.

Donna says that Melvin is a wonderful husband and father who is very understanding. She doesn’t know anyone who doesn’t like Melvin.

“He’s a giving person,” Donna said. “He’s been right there when I need him.”

For information on Love Story contact Christina Harper at or 425-339-3491.