Couples: May 21, 2007
Anniversary: Ensminger
George and Carol Ensminger, who will be married 60 years on Thursday, will celebrate the occasion with a family dinner that evening. They were married May 24, 1947, at the bride’s parents’ home in Iola. The Ensmingers will travel to Iola on Friday for a weekend reunion with Mrs. Ensminger’s sister and cousins and will attend the Iola High School alumni dinner on Saturday.
Their children are Linda Ensminger of Fredonia; John and Tracy Ensminger of Goodyear, Ariz., and Cheryl and Robert Protheroe of Emporia. Their six grandchildren are: Brian Protheroe of San Francisco, Calif.; Stephen Protheroe of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Marc Protheroe of Emporia; Meagan Ensminger of Arlington, Texas; and Carrie and Lily Ensminger of Goodyear, Ariz.
Carol Ensminger had a secretarial career, ending with 15 years at Farm Credit Service. George Ensminger began working in the engineering department at Dolly Madison Bakery in 1969 and worked there for 15 years. He worked at Mark II Lumber until he retired in 1995.
Anniversary: Sergeant
Charles Odean and Ellen Sergeant of Lebo celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on May 17. They were married May 17, 1947, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anna, Ill.
The Sergeants met at Wolf Lake, Ill., Ellen Sergeant’s hometown, in January 1943. Odean Sergeant served in the U.S. Army in Europe for the next three years. One year after he returned, they were married and moved to St. Louis, Mo., where he attended air conditioning and refrigeration school.
After he completed his schooling, they moved to Advance, Mo., where he did appliance repair.
Odean Sergeant was callled back to active duty in the Korean War. When the war ended, they moved to Lebo, his hometown. He became a dairyman and a farmer.
The Sergeants are the parents of three children, Karen Robinson of Topeka, Steve Sergeant of Lebo and Alicia Stracener of Lebo. A fourth child, Chuck Sergeant, died in August,1967.
Cards may be sent to the Sergeants at 2588 Fauna Road N.W., Lebo, KS 66856.
Anniversary: Allison
Ed and Ronda Allison will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at their home, 586 W. Highway 50, 2 1/2 miles west of Emporia.
Friends are welcome to stop by the reception. Hosts will be the Allisons’ children.
Ronda Cantrell and Edgar Allison were married May 26, 1957, on Claremore, Okla.Both had attended Foyil (Okla.) High School.
Ed Allison was a mechanic for Santa Fe Trucking and the railroad. He retired in October 1998 from Thompson Cartage Inc.
Ronda Allison is the activity director at Holiday resort.
They request no gifts.
Engagement: Langley and Grider
Alan and Diane Grider announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Grider, to Michael Langley, son of Marsha and Mike Langley. Both are from Emporia.
They both graduated from Emporia High School and attend Emporia State University.
A June 7, 2007, wedding is planned at West Side Baptist Church in Emporia.
Engagement: Smith and Melichar
Gene and Julie Cannata of Pratt, Mike and Kim Melichar of Wichita and David and Pam Smith of Lenexa announce the engagement of their children, Ashley Melichar and Matthew Smith, both of Emporia.
Melichar attends Emporia State University and plans to graduate in December with a secondary education degree in biology. Smith is a graduate of Emporia State University and is employed at Longbine Auto Plaza.
They plan to marry June 9, 2007, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emporia.
Wedding: Mitchell and Pobolish
Holly Renee Mitchell and Chet Anthony Pobolish, both of Emporia, were married Dec. 30, 2006. The Rev. John Davis officiated at the evening ceremony at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.
Amy Mitchell, the bride’s sister, was the maid of honor with Deon Glaser, Miya Williams, Katie Griffin and Ashley Lucey, the bridegroom’s sister, serving as attendants.
Mike Hoobler was the best man. Jon Wiemers, Brad Griffin, Danny Cavender and Clint Lucey were the attendants.
Madelynn Lucey was the flower girl. Aiden Lucey was the ring bearer. Candle lighters were Abby Cavender and Ashlie Osborn. Lucas Mitchell, the bride’s brother; Todd Hafner, Jordan Bell and Kelton Copeland were the ushers. Sue Seeman was the wedding musician.
Gretchen Porter was the guestbook attendant; Barb Hoobler was the program attendant.
The reception was held at the Emporia Country Club with Mary Noble and Shantel Taj serving the cake. The couple’s rehearsal dinner was catered by Bad Ol’ Bern’s BBQ at the Best Western Hospitality House.
The couple spent their honeymoon in Breckinridge, Colo., and are at home in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
The bride graduated from Emporia High School, Flint Hills Technical College’s nursing program and Washburn University with a degree in respiratory therapy. She is a nurse at Pella Health Center in Pella, Iowa.
The bridegroom graduated from Buckeye Local High School in Ohio and graduated this month with a master’s degree from Emporia State University. He is a football coach at William Penn University in Oskaloosa.
She is the daughter of Gregory and Carol Mitchell of Emporia and granddaughter of Robert and Dorothy Sime and Kenneth Mitchell, all of Chanute. He is the son of Ron and Laurie Pobolish and grandson of Julia Pobolish of Moundsville, W.V.