Rector couple reaches 66 years together

Many long-married couples provide a blueprint of success to their younger counterparts. In keeping with that school of thought, few people are as qualified to be instructors as Weldin and Ruth Wimberley.

On Jan. 10, the Wimberleys celebrated 66 years of marriage. Even though they've shared a lifetime of memories, the Wimberleys still vividly remember first meeting in June of 1940.

"We were both walking down Main Street in Rector," Weldin said. "She was walking north and I was walking south. We met in front of the old Purcell's Drug Store."

"That used to be our only form of entertainment back then," Ruth said.

"Going out and seeing the crowd was a big thing back in those days," Weldin said. "That was what you used to do on Saturday night."

According to Weldin, as he noticed Ruth approach from the opposite direction during that fateful walk, his friend Dale Gibson noted she was someone whom he had intended introducing to Weldin.

"We visited for a while," Weldin said. "Then we got in my dad's Plymouth and rode around. I ended up with a date for the next Saturday and things took off from there."

The two were engaged in October of 1941 and married the following January.

Upon their marriage, the Wimberleys moved to Weldin's father's farm at White Oak.

"That's one of the big differences today," Weldin said. "People think they ought to have a car or two and a house full of furniture right off the bat. We had to move into an older house and add the other things as we could afford them.

"We were fortunate. Dad had me make the crop in 1941 and he split the money with me. He brought me in and that was a big deal for us. I cleared $800 or $900 on that first crop and we had enough money to get through the winter just fine. Of course, next spring I had to borrow money again for that year's crop. That's just the way things were."

The Wimberleys both agree they were brought closer together by having to work with each other in those difficult times during, and just after, the Great Depression.

"I was working at the Democrat when we met," Ruth said. "After I graduated and we got married, I taught school for a couple of years. I made $50 a month. It wasn't much, but there were times that's all we had to eat on. Going through that with him made us both stronger. Love matures. As you live together, you grow closer and you work together."

"Marriage helps you grow up," Weldin said. "You settle down more those first few years."

The Wimberleys say they can't imagine not having been together all these years.

"If you really love someone, I don't know why you'd quit loving them," Weldin said. "It was certainly the case with me. I never found a fault with her."

"He's been good to me," Ruth said. "He's considerate and thoughtful. We've worked pretty well together side-by-side."

The Wimberleys raised two children while farming together. Their daughter, Dana Hayes, now resides in Sedgwick. Son Lynn lives in Jonesboro. They have four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren with one more on the way.

"We've been very fortunate to have such a wonderful family," Ruth said. "We just feel so blessed."

Though life is full of ups and downs, Weldin and Ruth Wimberley began a journey together 66 years ago and have faced all subsequent challenges and celebrations together.

"It's been 66 great years," Ruth said. "No one's perfect, but we've had a very good life together."