Bob, a California boy, was assigned to attend the Microwave Radio Officer’s course at Fort Monmouth, N.J. He decided to go to church, so he looked in the Yellow Pages. Since he didn’t know the meaning of Methodist and Presbyterian, he chose the Christian Church of Colts Neck.
The small church met at the Grange Hall. When Bob arrived, the pastor greeted him and introduced him to a couple of other members. Nancy was in the basement preparing communion trays. The pastor bounded down the stairs saying, “Nancy, Nancy! There is a Lieutenant here and he’s 23 years old.”
Nancy replied, “Oh, great; I’m 25.” She soon realized that their age difference was not relevant. Her parents got the ball rolling by inviting Bob to lunch. Other members of the congregation immediately followed their example, resulting in Bob and Nancy being together 10 times in the next two weeks. So they quickly got to know each other quite well.
When he went to bed Saturday night, Bob had the thought, “We are so compatible; I wonder if it might be God’s will that we marry.” After Sunday evening church, Bob dropped Nancy off at her house and without premeditation suddenly said, “Nancy, will you marry me?”
Since she had known Bob for only two weeks, she was very surprised. Bob told her she had all the time in the world to decide. Tuesday evening they attended a concert by the choir at her college alma mater. The topic of marriage did not come up, but when Bob stopped in front of her house, Nancy asked, “What did you ask me Sunday night?” Bob answered and Nancy said yes! Two months later they were married.
Their honeymoon was Nancy’s first camping experience, which was an 11-day trip to Bob’s next assignment at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Camping has been their vacation mode ever since. Four months later, Bob was deployed to Vietnam for a year.
After being discharged from the Army, Bob started his 34-year engineering career at IBM in San Jose. They were blessed with five delightful children. Their oldest son died from leukemia at age 12, after a six year illness. Bob and Nancy endured this trial by receiving strength from Christ and clinging to each other.
Today they are enjoying their eight grandchildren and in June will celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary.
