Dave and Vonda ~ 50 Years of Love: The early years

Happy 50th Anniversary!

Dear Mom and Dad,

We've spent many hours going through boxes, drawers, albums, envelopes, and files full of 50 years of photos, and have thoroughly enjoyed seeing these captured moments of your life together. Some we hadn't seen before, some made us laugh, some made us tear up, and some took our breath away. We hope you will enjoy experiencing them again in this way too. And, we hope you don't mind that we've shared these few glimpses of your amazing life with your closest friends and family so they can help you celebrate how blessed you truly are to have the privilege of 50 years of marriage.

You have been such a wonderful example of marriage. We've seen you live out "for better--for worse, for richer--for poorer, in sickness and in health.” We’ve watched you love and cherish each other while raising us, running a company, making your house a home, both battling and beating cancer, changing careers, caring for loved ones, retiring, grandparenting, and creating a life-list longer than we can type out or include in this space. We know that marriage is not all fairy tales, and we are grateful that you have worked hard at it and kept your pledge of faith to each other. You’ve done it beautifully, with the help of the Lord.

We are celebrating with you! Congratulations!!! 50 years of marriage is a badge of honor you deserve, and it comes with more blessings than can be counted. We love you.

- Taryn and Travis

Dave and Vonda both grew up in rural Columbia City, Indiana.

They are high school sweethearts.

Dave's senior prom--1967

Vonda's senior prom--1968

Dave proposed to Vonda after her prom.

Vonda on her senior trip to Washington D.C.

Both graduated from Churubusco High School--Dave in 1967 and Vonda in 1968.

In the early years of their marriage they lived in Lafayette, Indiana, while Dave was attending Purdue University and working as a wedding photographer on weekends.