A summer wedding, in the winter of your life, is like springtime to Chauncey Christofferson and Thelma Symonds.
They are getting married Aug. 26.
She is 85.
He is 96.
As I wrote on Feb. 14, 2006, Christofferson lost his wife, Nellie, after 55 years of marriage. He wasn’t looking for another partner, but reading his monthly copy of the 41st Signal Corps’ newsletter, he found a piece called “Memoir of an Australian War Bride” by Thelma Symonds of Connecticut.
Her husband of 60 years served in the same corps as Christofferson. She lost her beloved Stanley in 2000. Her nursing home address was printed in the newsletter.
They became pen pals, then fell in love.
The Stanwood gentleman flew back to Connecticut recently to propose.
“I asked if she would give me her hand in marriage,” he said. “She said ‘Yes,’ so I said, ‘Give me your left hand.’
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Christofferson said.
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Johann Bernard visited his old ship on the Fourth of July in Tacoma. I wrote that week about his service in World War II in the German Navy.
His son, Ralph Bernard of Marysville, also toured the ship, the Eagle. The three-masted sailing barque, originally called the Horst Wessel by the Germans, was taken as a war prize by the United States after World War II.
“The Coast Guard is taking very good care of the ship,” Ralph Bernard said. “Dad was right at home and very much enjoyed talking to both officers and cadets.”
Several folks who saw The Herald column introduced themselves to the Bernard family.
“I met a man who was from Chevy Chase, Maryland. His son was on the Eagle and spoke flawless German,” Ralph Bernard said.
The Maryland man said that he emigrated from Germany in the mid 1980s. Ralph Bernard said he assumed that the German man’s son learned the language while still there or as Bernard himself did, growing up in a German home.
Just goes to show what a small world we now live in, he said.
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They need extra hands at the Marysville Parks and Recreation senior citizen barbecue at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 13.
Ken Baxter Senior-Community Center manager Maryke Burgess said helpers can serve food and coffee, listen to great music, and help with set-up and clean up.
Many hands make light work, Burgess said.
For more information about volunteering, call her at 360-363-8450.
They’ve been barbecuing for seniors for a decade and it’s grown from 50 diners to more than 300.
“People like it because they get to remain seated,” Burgess said. “And they get treated to Alaskan salmon barbecued by our own parks director, Jim Ballew, who happens to be an excellent cook.”
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Fun Fact: Grace Bible Church in Marysville offers its sixth annual World’s for Sale event, which features gently used items.
It fills the whole gym at 8521 67th Ave. NE today and Saturday.
Lunch and snacks will be available and students flip burgers and turn hot dogs on the barbecues, as well as serve baked goods and drinks.
World’s for Sale is sponsored by the Student Ministries of Grace Bible Church from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Watch for junior and high school students in orange aprons helping stack, organize and sell items to support a student outreach ministry.
Grace Academy admissions director Gail Martin said there are two reasons the students wear orange aprons.
1. It identifies the students as helpful folks.
2. Youth pastor Sean Higgins has a favorite color — orange.
Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.
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