SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
Fred: June 20, 2019 was our 58th anniversary. This is how it all began:
In the Fall of 1957, Fred enrolled in the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
Fred’s dorm – Mesa Vista dorm – UNM
Sandia mountains, East of Albuquerque – Credit Google Search
In February of 1958, he joined the First Baptist Church in Albuquerque, where Judy had been attending since she was four years old.
First Baptist Church, Albuquerque credit Google Search
Sometime later, Fred joined the Sanctuary Choir, which is where he became aware of Judy, who was also in the choir.
In the Fall of 1958, at the Baptist Student Union (BSU) center on the UNM campus, in a planning meeting for the upcoming BSU Conference in Portales, NM,
Photo credit Jimmy Emerson
Judy became aware of Fred, while riding in the same car from Albuquerque to Portales (four hour trip). After the group arrived in Portales (ENMU),
Credit Google Search and ENMU website
and signed in at the hotel, a group of about 10 drove Fred to his parent’s home on Cannon AFB, near Clovis, NM (18 miles away).
Credit Google Search and http://www.abqjournal.com
We all rode in our Bible teacher’s Studebaker Champion.
Barbara, Fred, and Coach with his Studebaker Champion – October 1958, leaving the convention
Because there were 10 of us, we had to “double up” and Judy sat on Fred’s lap for that distance.
Later that Fall, the church youth department, sponsored a hay ride, and Judy asked Fred to go with her…and he did. This was Fred’s first date with anybody, since he had been a confirmed bachelor!
After this, we dated casually for about one year,
1959 – Albuquerque, NM
and after a lot of prayer and soul-searching, Fred decided Judy was the “right one” for him, so he went to Judy’s father, and asked him for permission to marry his daughter, Judy. He said “yes.” With her father’s blessing, I asked Judy to marry me, and – hallelujah!– she said “yes.”
From the beginning of our relationship, we were both committed to the “True Love Waits” concept, before it became popular. We were convinced our Creator and Lord knew what was best for us.
We were engaged for over a year-and-a-half before we were married, since we and our parents agreed it would be better for at least one of us to have a college degree.
We married on June 20, 1961….and the rest is history! And thus began year one.
Judy: I remember going to work with the Draft Board in Fort Worth, Texas, where we had moved after the wedding. When our first anniversary was approaching, I was able to take the day off (without pay) and Fred and I went to Six Flag Over Texas, which is between Dallas and Fort Worth. It was our first time at that amusement park, and we played the entire day. It was great!
Credit Google Search and Six Flags website
I don’t have a lot of memories of too many of our anniversaries, but that first one stands out. Since we’ve been in Florida, we have made it a “habit” to stay at the Shades of Green resort on Disney property, and do one park each day. However, since we are getting older, the heat really affects us, and we decided not to do that on this anniversary. Instead, we drove over to Titusville and spent time with my brother, Bill and his wonderful wife, DiVoran.
We four then went to our favorite seafood restaurant in Titusville – Dixie Crossroads – for lunch.
Credit Google Search and Dixie Crossroads website
We shared a wonderful meal with them, and then headed home. It was a lovely, quiet, day, and we treasured each other all day long.
58 years as a married couple – plus three years getting to know each other. That’s a true landmark. We are grateful to God for bringing us together. We placed Him in the very middle of our lives together at the beginning, and He has never let us down.
May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
2 Thessalonians 3:5
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years
Old Things R New 
Thaanks great post
LikeLike
Just think, with the modern seatbelt laws, you and Fred may have never had that first date!
LikeLike
That was truly lovely and loving.
LikeLike