Celebrating Everlasting Love

See pages 1A and 9A to read about more local couples!

Jim and Barbara Weaver have lived all across the Americas: from the east coast in Columbia, South Carolina, to the west coast in Portland, Oregon and Anaheim, California; in the middle in Oklahoma City; in the Caribbean in Puerto Rico; and even as far away as Venezuela, South America. But the couple has always called Lancaster County home.

Jim and Barbara met at McCaskey High School. They were married in 1961 at Covenant Church in Lancaster, and will be celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary on March 3rd. Now in their early eighties, the Weavers reside at Pleasant View in Manheim.

Jim and Fran Axe were married in 1953 at the home of Pastor Roberts, who was the husband of Jim’s teacher. Jim was only 16 at the time, his wife even younger, at just 15 – but their love has lasted through the decades. The Axes will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on October 10.

Jim was born in rural New Holland; Fran was from Honey Brook, which is where the couple met through mutual friends. Jim’s friend Sam didn’t drive, so Jim drove him to Honey Brook where the two double­dated with Fran and her friend Edie.

During their married life, the couple has resided in Honey Book and various locations throughout Lancaster County, including Intercourse, rural Strasburg, New Holland, Terre Hill and Fivepointville.

While much of their time together has been spent in and around Lancaster County, one of Jim and Fran’s most treasured memories came when they celebrated their 50th anniversary with a cruise to Bermuda. The couple says the trip is one they will never forget.

The couple says there are many things that have contributed to the success of their marriage. They note that they have a good sense of humor and laugh a lot together, listen to and respect each other, and always show the love that they have for one another.

Jim and Barbara share many fond memories of their years together, including all of the places they have lived and the people they have met. One of their most memorable experiences came when Jim was called up to the Major League with the California Angels.

Another of their fondest memories is the birth of their three children: Jim Weaver II, of Lititz, Chris Weaver, of Elizabethtown, and Jennifer Lehman, of Lititz. Their family also includes eight grandchildren: Conner and Sara Lehman, Lititz; Allison Confer, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; Aiden and Cohen Weaver, Elizabethtown; Melissa Heisey, Leola; Mindy Miller, Lititz; and Timothy Dunmire, Lancaster.

The Weavers’ words of advice for young couples are to enjoy each other, be there for each other, compromise, and compliment each other.

The Axes note that it is important to share with your spouse, whether that is with household chores or sharing your ideas. Their advice for young couples is to maintain a daily dose of love and respect for each other.

Jim and Fran share three children, Linda, Jimmy and Brenda. Over the years the family has grown to include nine grandchildren, 28 great­grandchildren, and one greatgreat­grandchild due this summer. Grandchildren include: Tim Dippner, Melissa Everett, Jereme Dippner, Stacey Snowberger, David Axe, Stephanie Axe, Jennifer Axe, Jonathan Nixon and Dylan Nixon. Greatgrandchildren are: Destiny, Victoria and Timmy Dippner; Mekayla, Lincoln, Maveric and Kinslee Everett; Gavin, Annie, Henry, Nathan, Nicholas and Natalyn Nixon; Megan, Eliz, Jordan, Chloe, Jonathan, Domenic, Delario and Nayella Axe; Samantha and Zack Joy; Cache Dippner; and Evie, Sophia, Grayson and Kayden Axe. Nearly all the members of the family reside in Pennsylvania, to include nine grandchildren, 28 Nixon and Dylan Nixon. Great­

On December 23, 1953, a group of young folks were hanging out at Cloister Dairy. Alvin Wise was there with a friend, who found a girl he was interested in. Alvin wound up being coupled with the girl’s friend, Anna Mae. While the relationship between their friends was short­lived, Alvin and Anna Mae stayed together. They were married a year and a half later, on June 25, 1955, in the living room of Bishop J. Paul Graybill.

The couple has lived in northern Lancaster County their whole lives, with Anna Mae born on a farm in East Earl, and Alvin born on a farm on Black Creek Road. During their marriage, they lived in East Earl, Fivepointville, Lincoln, the Bowmansville area, then back to East Earl, and finally to their current location at Fairmount Retirement Community.

“Poor boy, has to begin high school with his arm in a sling,” thought Lydia when she saw a young man in line to register at Lancaster Mennonite School. The boy, Paul Kurtz, had injured himself during a failed trick accident. By the end of their 1944 freshman year, Paul’s arm had healed, and he and Lydia were playing ping pong together. Later, they would enjoy other activities, such as ice skating and pulling taffy.

The couple’s love grew, and on May 18, 1951, they were married in the new Hinkletown Mennonite Church. Paul and Lydia are each turning 93 years old this year, and have now been married for 71 years.

Lydia was born in New Holland and grew up in the Bergstrasse area of Ephrata. Paul was born in the northwest parlor of a farmhouse and grew up on the farm in Morgantown. Though they now reside locally at Fairmount Retirement Community, the Kurtzes have moved a total of 10 times and lived in five other states outside of Pennsylvania over their marriage: Virginia, West Virginia, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

Many of Paul and Lydia’s most special memories together center around their travels. Soon after their marriage, they spent two weeks in Atmore, Alabama teaching Bible School. While there, they stayed with the family of Richard Kling, which included the Klings’ son, Nelson. In recent years, Nelson Kling was an administrator at Lancaster’s Mennonite with the exception of one in Ohio and one in Texas.

While they haven’t moved far, over the 67 years that they’ve been married, the Wises have done a lot of traveling together outside of the area. They have visited 49 out of the 50 United States, and seven Canadian provinces. They treasure the many weekends that they spent at a cabin in the mountains, along with a few trips to Florida, and note that they have a lot of beautiful memories. In addition to their travels together, Alvin spent much of his life on the road as a truck driver.

Together Alvin and Anna Mae had five children. The family now includes 12 grandchildren, 6 of whom are married, and 11 great­grandchildren.

The couple lost one of their children in 1984 at the age of 22. They note that it was a tough time, but are thankful for the support they received from the Osteopathic Hospital, as they acknowledge that the death of a child can cause some marriages to break up.

The Wises believe that if you put God first, everything will fall into place, and like to refer to Bible verses Romans 8 and Ecclesiastes 3:1­13. In addition to trusting in God, their advice for other couples is to never go to bed mad, work your troubles out before you try to sleep.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 enjoyed many camping trips when Phyllis,

Home Communities, and was the namesake for Paul and Lydia’s son, Paul Nelson. They also picked up their daughter Pearl’s name from that trip. Along the way between Alabama and Pennsylvania, the couple stopped at Lookout Mountain, Georgia, and had a passerby take their picture on the cliff of Lover’s Leap. In 1962, when traveling back through the area for Paul’s Psychology Fellowship at Ole Miss, they visited the cliff again, this time with their four children.

Another special trip the couple recalls is when they joined Tour Imagination in 2000 for a tour of Europe to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They also enjoyed many camping trips when their children were young.

Over the years, Paul and Lydia were blessed with four children: Paulson Kurtz, husband of Shirley, Harrisonburg, Virginia; Pearl, wife of Eric Bruker, Harrisburg; Phillip Duane Kurtz, Mountville; and Phyllis, wife of Eric Ulrey, Aurora, Ohio. The family has grown to also include seven grandchildren and 16 great­grandchildren.

The Kurtzes credit the success of their union to a few things. Paul recalls that letters Lydia wrote to him prior to their marriage guided him through the stormy days. He also notes that during their many moves due to his opportunities, Lydia never complained, and made new friends wherever they went. They always took one day at a time, and kept moving. Their advice to young couples who are just starting out is simple: “Listen carefully!”

Adamstown Area Library is located at 110 West Main Street in Adamstown, next to the post office. Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

This February, everyone is invited to perform simple acts of kindness through the Touch A Heart Program, which delivers Valentine’s

Day cards to nursing home residents, veterans and soldiers. Brighten Someone’s Day Packets also provide cheer to senior residents. Supplies for both programs are available for pickup at the library.

For Valentine’s Day, the library Friends’ Glance at Romance Book Sale offers eight paperback romances in a beautifully decorated bag for a small cost.

February Events

• Friends’ Glance at Romance Book Sale – Now through Tuesday, February

14, while supplies last. The Friends’ Glance at Romance Book Sale takes place every February through Valentine’s Day. Purchase a beautifully decorated bag of eight paperback books while supplies last.

• Touch a Heart Program – Now through Wednesday, February 8. Join the library in making handmade cards to make this Valentine’s Day a little more special for nursing home residents, veterans and soldiers. Pick up any needed supplies at the library, and drop off your completed cards to the library foyer by Wednesday, February 8. A simple gesture can make a world of difference!

• “Budding Bookworms” Preschool Storytime –Additional times: Every

Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Stories and an easy craft for ages 3­6 with adult. Wednesdays, February 8, 15 and 22.

• Young At Heart – Wednesday, February 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

REAL Life Community Services invites you to Young at Heart, with free events for anyone age 60 and up. Join them at the library for coffee, chatting, games, crafts, and more on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. For more information, call 717­3367797 or visit REALLCS. org.

• “Twinkling Stars” Baby Storytime – Every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Simple stories, rhymes, puppets, songs, and fingerplays. Bring along your 1,000 Books Before

Kindergarten packets to help achieve your goal! For babies with adult. Thursdays, February 9, 16 and 23.

• “The Young and the Restless” Toddler Time –Every Thursday at 11:00 a.m. Stories, songs and fingerplays, followed by an easy craft and free play. Bring along your 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten packets to help achieve your goal! For toddlers with adult. Thursdays, February 9, 16 and 23.

• Mother Goose on the Loose – Monday, February 13 and 27 at 10:00 a.m. This fun­filled program engages your child with nursery rhymes, songs, scarves, flannel board stories and shakers to strengthen the foundation for early literacy. For ages 2­5.

• Virtual I SPY and Hide & Seek Escape Rooms –Tuesday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. Can you find specific things in each picture? If you look closely, you will find the items you seek. Do you like to play hide and seek? Can you guess what is hiding in each picture? Miss Jess will also show you some free library databases (Tumblebooks & Book Flix). For ages 4­10. Registration required to receive Zoom Link.

• Daytime Discoverers at the library – Thursday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. Are you doing “at­home” learning? Join Miss Jess for exciting and educational programs on the second Thursday of the month. In February, Brandon Webb from Members 1st Federal Credit Union will cover “What is money”: How we spend (via cards, checks, and currency), and what American currency and coin look like. For families.

• Macrame Workshop –

View obituaries at www.snews.com/obituaries.

Oliver M. “Ollie” Sholmartin, 94, of Denver, passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at United Zion Retirement Community.

He was born in Reinholds to the late Earl and Katie (Mellinger) Sholmartin and was the husband of Sally (Davidson) Sholmartin, with whom he shared 14 years of marriage.

Ollie attended St. John’s United Church of Christ, Denver. He was a member of Reinholds VFW Post 6759 and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles.

Ollie was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during the Korean War. He was the owner/ operator of Sholmartin’s

Thursday, February 9 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you’re interested in crafting and spending time with others in a fun and relaxing atmosphere, this free workshop is for you. In February, learn how to make your own macramé wall hanging. All supplies and instruction will be provided. For adults and older teens. Registration is requested.

• LEGO Activity Bag Pickup – Monday, February 13, while supplies last. On the 2nd Monday of each month there will be a new LEGO® packet for you to pick up, with instructions for a special project. Starting

Garage until his retirement in 1979.

In addition to his wife, Ollie is survived by step-daughter, Leslie, wife of Dennis Laudermilch; step-grandson, Alex Laudermilch, husband that day, you can pick up a kit in the library foyer. One per family please. For ages 5­12 years.

• Drop­In STEAM –Monday, February 13, dropin from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math through games, activities, and projects with Miss Jess. This month’s activities include designing a Valentine’s Day Card and a Valentine Engineering challenge. An adult is required to accompany children under 8.

• Genealogy Group – The group will not meet in of Martha; 2 step-greatgrandchildren, Lexia and Colt; and brother, Herman Sholmartin.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by first wife, Pauline (Petery) Sholmartin.

A visitation will be held on Friday, February 10th, from 10:00 to 11:00 am at the Roseboro Stradling Funeral Home, 533 Walnut St., Denver. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 am, with Pastor Brad Haws officiating. Interment will take place in the Swamp Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Ollie’s memory may be made to St. John’s UCC, P.O. Box 37, Denver, PA, 17517.

Arrangements by Roseboro Stradling Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc., Denver.