In anticipation of much more participation from all of you, this is a brief recounting of the wedding of Pat Oltjen and Phil Foust. We were scheduled to be married on June 12, 1955, but a scheduling problem because of a performance of our dance band on that date ... changed the wonderful day to May 29, 1955.
Don Shaffer was my best man and the other men in the wedding party were Bill Williams, Bill Marker (Dexter), and Thayne Douglas Oltjen. Pat's maid of honor was Donna Burch and the other ladies in the group were Janice Sartin, Nadine Oltjen (Cousin), and Betty Jean Foust. Don and I went to Winfield to pick up the wedding cake (as I remember) with only a small problem in that there was some slippage to the work of art on our way home.
The wedding was held at the Cedar Vale Methodist Church and the minister was Reverend Shuler. (It is believed that Shuler succeeded chinchilla raiser Whipple.) The wedding proceeded quite nicely with a reception in the basement following the formal ceremony. We had a bit of a problem in leaving Cedar Vale in that our beautiful 1950 cream colored Mercury had been jacked up and elevated on cement blocks inside the locked lumber yard of Clyde Shaffer. After this problem was addressed, we were ready to speed out of town when the City Marshall (M. White) stopped us for a warning. At some inopportune times (for instance) while stopping at traffic lights the car would slip out of gear . It was necessary to raise the hood to repair the problem. Fortunately, the stoppage by Marshall White didn't require repair and we finally headed out of town.
We spent our wedding night in Tulsa but came back to Cedar Vale and Dexter the next day to load up our vehicle for the trip back to our new home. We motored to New Orleans and then along the gulf coast toward Florida. A meal perhaps in Mississippi of grilled red snapper still lives in our memories as one of the best visits ever to an eatery. The cafe was rough and isolated and the delicious fish was served on some butcher paper with no accompanying foodstuffs. We were to meet the dance band, (The Starlighters), someplace on the Atlantic Coast of Florida for a reception and dance in honor of Miss America, (Lee Ann Meriweather). After the dance, we came home for some wonderful years in what was the lovely city of Savannah, Georgia. The end of the story is that we have lived happily ever after.
6 comments:
Wonderful, Phil.. It just shows that something as mundane as a wedding can be thoroughly entertaining to friends and relatives that know you (both) and love you. Not to really say that weddings are mundane, but you know what I mean??
Great work, Phil. Now, I'd love to hear about that same day (and how they got your car away and jacked it up) from our newest blogger, Don S.
I would also like to hear about who and how and why the wagon ended up on top of the Adams Merc. building one morning, years ago.
Hey, Phil, another regret. Not knowing you and Pat as a young married couple in CV. You both were (are) outstanding folk.
Yes, Wayne .. in the same vein I would have loved being close to you (a credit to your fine mother and father) and your family. High School friends and classmates remain special throughout life.
I remember it well! Coming back from Winfield, cake in "hands!" Sliding as it may, this way and that way! Indentures were made! Turning a traditional cake in one that spoke of contemporary designs!
I'm sure Phil and I explained the "cake away!" You know, I only remember the smile on Phil's face, when he "faced" his beloved, Pat, and said, "We did our best!" When Pat smiled back, I knew this was a union made in Heaven! The "taste" of that memory will remain forever! Just let it be known that the "Phil/Don" Delivery may not have been the the best, but at the time, IT WAS!
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