By Mark Ambrogi
As Valentine’s Day approaches, love is in the air. For five couples in the same Augusta subdivision of the Plum Creek neighborhood in Carmel, love has been in air for 50-plus years. All five celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2015.
“We know we are all blessed to be a part of the 50-year club,” Charlean Croxton said. “We are becoming a rare phenomena. We have known each other ranging from three to 14 years depending on when one moved into the neighborhood. There is a common bond of respect, friendship, and camaraderie.”
Joanne Dyer agreed it is an accomplishment.
“Celebration of 50 years of marriage is a joy and a privilege,” Joanne said. “Bob and I are sharing a life of love and friendship. Collectively, (we) celebrated 250 years of marriage. We celebrated individually during the year and all of us celebrated together with a dinner in October.
Dottie Strano said the couples all met and became friends through the neighborhood.
“Since we all are friends, we knew we were all celebrating our 50th anniversary so we decided let’s all get together,” Dottie said. “So Joanne and my husband, John Strano, cooked the Italian meal for us.”
“Not only did we have a delicious Italian dinner, but a lot of laughs were shared,” Charlean said.
Besides the coincidence that all the friends from one neighborhood were married in the same year, Joanne pointed out she and Bob were married on the same day as Barb and Denny Glander.
ANNIVERSARY DATES
- June 13, 1965: Lynn and Charlean Croxton. From: Lynn, Indiana, Charlean, South Dakota
- Aug. 14, 1965: Jim and Jan Dittoe: From: Ohio
- Aug. 28, 1965: Bob and Joanne Dyer. From: Brooklyn, New York.
- Aug. 28, 1965: Denny and Barbara Glander. From: Chicago.
- Oct. 9, 1965: John and Dottie Strano. From Connecticut
