Alum Update: High School Sweethearts†

Reunion story & then some...

October 26, 2019 was a special day for two Forever Warriors. Lorena (Smith) Mendelsohn and Tom Walton, both ‘67, were married at Lake Lawn Resort, on the shore of Delavan Lake, Wis.

Tom and Lorena's wedding day on October 26, 2019

After hearing that both were widowed, Ellyn (Pederson) Welling mentioned Lorena’s name to Tom at their 50th class reunion (Lorena was not there). Tom shared with Ellyn that he had a crush on Lorena for three years at Lakeside but never told her or anyone else.

A “nudge” came months later, during a phone conversation. Ellyn told Tom that Lorena had moved back to Wis. Tom could not speak a sound but floated back to January 3, 1964, when he first laid eyes on her. His silence prompted Ellyn to say, “Tom, do I have to tell you what to do?” (She did proceed to “advise” him as he was lost in thought.) The fuse was lit.

Tom was not going to let Lorena get away again. After a month or so of texting, calls, and emails, the two met and never looked back. Fifty two years after graduation and almost 57 years after Tom first saw Lorena, the two became husband and wife. They both feel like they’re 15 years old again. Says Ellyn, “Praise the Lord!” †

18 year old Tom

18 year old Lorena

So many more beautiful love stories! See several more photos and high school sweetheart stories on Facebook @LLHSForeverWarriors