My Anchor

Anchor of My Soul

A tribute to our marriage of fifty years, Donald Godfrey Luce and Ardiss Willman Luce

It was amazing that my baloney, grilled in beer dinner, didn’t give you a big hint of what a life with me would be like!   I had been drifting through life with no harbor to set anchor until your handsome face came into my life.  Perhaps it was the lime green dress I was wearing, or my hair, or my laugh, or just maybe me?  It wasn’t long before we went from dancing in a bar to dancing in life for now 50 years!!!!!

It was fun meeting your parents at Easter – you must have really loved me to take me home to meet Mimi and Pops!  I put my best foot forward and a few cute dresses my Mother Mary made me.  Little did I know your Dad thought you could never afford to keep me!!  Both of our parents loved what God had put together in us.  We were madly in love and didn’t even care about anything else.  What a wonderful, crazy time together falling in love!!

After meeting in February and a beautiful start, our Valentine love grew to a lifelong commitment with our wedding on June 13th, 1970.  Isn’t it amazing it is on Saturday again this day June 13th, 2020!  The year of the pandemic has sharpened our vision in life for what is important to us.  We love our kids, our home, our cabin, but most of all we love each other!!!  What a wonderful day it was as written up in the Sidney Daily News when we become Husband and Wife:

Couple Speaks Vows in Chapel:  Miss Ardiss Jane Willman was escorted down the aisle by her father and was given in marrage by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Willman, Bon Air Drive, when she exchanged her nuptial vows with Donald G. Luce.  Mr. Luce is a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Luce, 127 Oakdale Sqaure, Dedham, Massacusetts.  The vows were read at six o’clock Saturday evening, June thirteenth, before the altar of the Chapel of Memories, First United Methodist Church, the Rev. Michael Mahoney officiating for the double ring service.  

Lighted yellow tapers held in tiered candelabra illuminated the setting and an arrangement of yellow and white daisies was on the altar.  Oranist for the prelude and ceremony was Joseph Lonsway.  Included in his selections were “One Hand, One Heart,””O Promise Me, “ “Somewhere”, “Because”, “Love is a Many Splendored Thing”, My Heart Ever Faithful”, May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You”, and traditional wedding marches.

Gowned in white, fashioned by she and her mother, the bride walked to the altar in a slipper satin pantsgown with a high rolled neckline.  Scrolls of embroidered roses were appliqued on the front and back yoke and around the slits in the full bubble sleeves.  Long, tight cuffs closed the sleeves with pearl buttons.

 

Her pillbox of satin, embroidered to match the gown, held a chapel length veil of imported silk illusion.  She carried a crescent bridal bouquet of yellow and white daisies with a cascade of the same flowers falling to the floor.  The bouquet was marked with greenery and was tied with white satin ribbons.

Her attendants, Miss Barbara Kastan, Maid of honor, and Miss Joyce Postlethwaite, bridesmaid, wore sleeveless pantsgowns, fashioned like that worn by the bride. Miss Kastan was gowned in pale olive slipper satin and Miss Postlethwaite was in pale yellow. They wore bands of yellow and white daisies in their hair, and carried yellow lighted tapers encirecled with yellow and white daisies with ribbon streamers in yellow and olive cascading to the floor.  Their silver rings, made by the bride, were their gifts.

Kenyon Luce of Maryland was the best man and seating the wedding guests was E. Michael Willman, brothers of the bridal couple.  Mrs. Willman chose a yellow dress with a beaded neckline.  The other bridegroom, Mr. Luce, chose a pale green coat and dress ensemble.  Their corsages were of cymbidium orchids.

The bride’s grandmothers, Mrs. Olivia Liggett Stockstill and Mrs. Mable Morrison Willman, Daytona Beach, Florida, were present for the wedding and received corsages of pink carnations.  

Fifty guests, relatives and neighbors, were present for the recption held in the home of the bride’s parents.  Yellow daisy chrysanthemums marked the doorway of the home where the guests were received.  A three tiered wedding cake, decorated on top with a bouquet of yellow and white daisies, centered the serving table.  The candles flanking the cake were decorated with bouquets of live daisies.

A navy and white pantsuit was worn by the bride when the couple left on a wedding trip.  They are now residing at 110 University Apartments, Bowling Green, Ohio.  Mrs. Luce is a senior at Bowling Green State University where she is majoring in art education.  Her husband, who will graduate in December from Bowling Green State University, is a chemicstry major.  He is working during the summer months for a railroad company in Toledo.

Other guests from out of state include the bride’s younger brother, Todd Willman; Mrs. Kenyon Luce from Maryland, Captain Bryon Luce of the Green Berets and stationed in Panama, sister-in-law and brother of the bridegroom; Miss Susan Stockstill and Miss Linda Stockstill, LaCanada, California, cousins of the bride; and Lieutenant J. G. and Mrs. John W. Willman and Kimberly, brother, sister-in-law and nice of the bride.  Guest were also here from Boston, Massachusetts, and Bowling Green, Ohio.

Rehersal Party:  Mr. and Mrs. John Luce, parents of the bridegroom-elect, were hosts for a rehersal dinner served at the Imperial House Shelby on Friday evening, June twelfth. Twenty two guest were present.

Shower Given:  A personal shower was given in the Greenwood Apartments, Bowling Green State University, Miss Joyce Postltehwaite the hostess.  Guest were rommates of the bride and hostess.

 

A Tea marked a miscellaneous shower given by Mrs. James Lonsway, Mrs. C.V. Lewis and Mrs. William Ross, in the Ross home on Burkewood Drive.  Forty-four guest were invited for the occasion.  Tea was served from a table marked with daisy and lovebird centerpiece.

Miss Barbara Kastan and Miss Sandra Siehl were hostesses for a bridal tea, the event in the Kastan home, Bon Air Drive.  Twenty-five guests were present for the around the clock shower.  The bride was presented with a gold travel clock.  A bridal Luncheon was served June thirteenth in the home of Miss Sandra Siehl.  Ten guests were present for the occasion, marked with presence of close school friends of the bride-elect.

After we were married I had to go to summer school at Bowling Green and you worked on ROTC responsibilities.  I finished winter classes and soon we were blessed with Euri being born!  You finished your Master’s degree and I finished my degree and got a job nearby in North Baltimore, Ohio as a high school art teacher.  We decided to move out of our 3rd story apartment where we lived the dream of being together with creativity pouring out of me painting after painting.  You were so kind to walk over them all every day and even framed them for me!  Dad send Todd with a van to help move out but when he missed that stop sign with me behind him, your professor plowed into the side of the van and he ran over that firehydrant – wow what a scene!  I thought he hit a gas line – the force was ear deafening but thank God it was only water.  He hopped out and we talked to the cops, and headed back with you in wonder standing outside with all of the furniture moved down 3 floors!  You graciously moved it all back upstairs until we moved officially back to Sidney several weeks later.  It was actually a gift that day because it slowed us down and we enjoyed Todd and Euri and even had a cookout (sorry about that van Dad).

We had a wonderful time in San Antonio from August to December in 1972 while you completed your officer training for the Army.  Such sweet memories of walking along the riverwalk and spending all the money we had with no cares at all!

 

You applied for law school in the spring as we were living in Sidney until July and watched Todd while my parents went to Florida.  You were accepted at Suffolk Law school and we moved out early in July so I could get a teaching job.  After 54 applications and a little kick in the rear from Mom to get over my shyness, I got the job!  We had a small apartment but our love was big.  Euri, you (my heart) and I are always tied to Boston forever.

 

 

 

After 3 years of law school, you received your Jurus Doctor, Cum Laude with honors and you got a job in Sidney, Ohio with Blake, Blake, & Faulkner.  You stuided to pass your Ohio bar and passed with flying colors!

When y ou started working in Sidney, I was hired on the spot at Troy City Schools.  We had a few disagreements now and then but always came to mutual respect and understanding and of course you became a fabulous chef!  It was 12/18/1976 just before Christmas that we moved into our newly built house on Broadway.  Austine was born in the fall of the following year.

 

It was the spring of 1978 that I talked with Claire Naveau with Russia Local schools near Sidney.  I got the art teacher position there and started to work in late August that year.  It was such a wonderful small community where family was so influential upon the children – a Brigadoon of sorts.  After 5 years, you decided to run for Judge so I quit my job and helped you get elected in November of 1983 when you WON over the incumbant - receiving 71% of the vote.  I guess I helped a little!! You were sworn in and started pounding the gavel from the bench in January 1984.

In 1981, we sailed back from Bermuda with Dad – for six days we saw no land and 8-1/2 days later we got back to Key Biscayne!  It was survival of the fittest with Dad, Don, Leo, JJ, and me – what a crew!!

I started back to work at Sidney High School as the art teacher in 1984 when Brandon was 1 year old and cointinued for 19 years.  It was very difficult for me when Dad passed away in October of 1994 but you were there for me through this difficult time.  Our lives were consumed with our jobs and family over the years with some ups and downs along the way but our love has always remained strong.  You were so supportive of me with that beautiful rose when I found out I had tested positive for breast cancer in March 2001 as another episode of the Red Glove Review was in progress.  With your love, support and God’s miraculous intervention in my life, I was healed!!  I can remember when you saw me singing in the shower and asked me if I was all right like I had lost my mind or something.  Of course, I did loose my mind to the ways of the world at that moment in time.  I was lifted up as on wings of eagles like Dad, and I have been flying high with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit every since!

Here’s a picture of me back in my wedding dress in 2010 – not too bad, eh?

 

I retired after 30+ years of teaching in 2004 and we celebrated all that God had done for us with an excitement of what was ahead of us.  We spent endless summers together in Canada, year after year for over 30 years going to our beloved cabin on the lake.  It was like life never ends and only begins anew each spring as our love for each other blooms!!!

After a bit of retirement it was time for some new challenges for me and God gave me the responsibility to run my Dad’s real estate business.  I needed the challenge to work on these properties and build them up - thanks for your help!.  You retired on 10/31/2010 from 5 terms as Judge – atta boy!!!!!!  Of course you still have fun substituting at your beautiful courtroom you restored, built on the Annie Oakley stage of the Civil War Memorial building (and my past teen center!).  I admire your contributions in my home town which match those of my father and his good friend Bill Ross.  As we walk in the Tawawa Park and we see those county jail inmates mowing grass and beautifying the park it reminds me of this program you established to help those in troubled times restore their lives.

 

For many ways, I had the opportunity to minister to so many students to bring out the best in them.   And those I couldn’t reach, you took over and ministered to them in the courtroom to find a way of escape from their troubles and reach new heigths in life.

 

Our children mark some important milestones in our lives together.  Euri was the Wedding Baby born after we were married, Austine was the New House Baby born after we moved into our Sidney home and Brandon was the Judge Baby after you were elected as Municipal Court Judge in 1984.

 

You are so thoughtful about all of our children and grandchildren by spending time with them and encouraging them to improve themselves.  I am so proud of you!!!

 

 

But this day is the most important to me when you and I were married and we became partners in life together.  We are truly opposites that came together in life.  You have ministered to me as a gift from God.  I will always love you and I thank God for you and for all the days of our lives together.

You and Jesus are my anchor in life indeed!!!!!

Happy 50th Anniversary Donnie !!!!! !!!!! !!!!! !!!!! !!!!! !!!!! !!!!! !!!!! !!!!! !!!!!