Judie Cofer was a student at Rosehill Elementary School in Mukilteo when she met the man she would marry.
Arnie Thompson was a crossing guard and Judie made up the patrol schedules.
“I always made sure that we were on the same schedule,” Judie said.
But the couple’s first round with love didn’t last. They broke up during sixth grade.
When Valentine’s Day came, Arnie gave Judie a card signed with his name. It read, “I hate you.” Judie still has the card.
Arnie and Judie Thompson of Stanwood will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on Saturday.
The couple were married Aug. 11, 1967, in Everett.
They have three children and five grandchildren.
After their initial sixth grade break-up, the couple still saw each other. Judie and Arnie went through junior high school together.
When he and his buddies took some girls to a drive-in movie, Arnie asked Judie if she would go.
“We went out the next weekend,” Judie said. “We’ve been together ever since.”
The couple went out together for two years before high school graduation in June 1967. They were married two months later. They lived in their Everett home for 30 years and moved to Stanwood two years ago.
Judie believes that the biggest factor in a relationship is communication.
“If we have a problem we don’t let it build up,” she said. “We get it out on the table.”
When going into marriage, couples have to be friends as well loved ones, Judie said.
Having fun and enjoying each other is something that Judie and Arnie have done throughout their marriage.
“We are really family oriented,” Judie said.
In celebration of their 40 years of marriage the couple said their children plan to host a murder mystery dinner party, “The Chicago Caper,” where guests dress up as characters. Judie will be a lounge singer and Arnie will be a golfer.
“He loves to golf so it’s perfect,” Judie said.
Judie describes Arnie as very caring and someone who loves his wife and his family dearly and who would do anything for them.
“In three years we lost three parents. We were there all the time to support each other,” Judie said.
She adds that Arnie is a wonderful man who is very dependable. When hard times have come along, their love for each other has gotten stronger.
“I was very fortunate to marry such a wonderful man,” Judie said.
For information on Love Story and Celebrations call Christina Harper at 425-339-3491 or e-mail harper@heraldnet.com.
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