Former Salem sweethearts, now lakers, mark 50th anniversary

Photos courtesy of Midge and Dave Ovenshire

Midge and Dave Ovenshire, 1960.

Six years ago, Midge and Dave Ovenshire moved to Moneta from Salem, where they met in a high school civics class.

Could there be a more classic love story than this?

Characters: Midge and Dave Ovenshire, who now live in Moneta.

Setting: Salem of bygone days.

Action: Boy met girl in Andrew Lewis High School civics class, September 1957.

August 1959: Dave fetched Midge from her "DE" (distributive education) job at the late, great J.J. Newberry's department store. They walked across downtown Main Street to The Malibu restaurant -- another gone-but-not-forgotten Salem institution. Over lunch he presented an engagement ring. "She did not finish her lunch," wrote Dave.

The next month he entered the United States Air Force and awaited Midge's June 1960 graduation. This June marks their 50th wedding anniversary.

The couple lived in Delaware and Mississippi during Dave's eight-year Air Force assignments.

More familiar names: Afterward, she worked for the National Cash Register Corp. and S.H. Heironimus in data processing. He ran his Main Street shop next to Salem's Mill Mountain Coffee: The Frame Connection.

Midge was a longtime counselor / program director for Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare. Both retired to Smith Mountain Lake in October 2004.

Family: Children David Ovenshire (Roanoke); Rick Ovenshire (Covesville); and Kristin O. Morehouse of Colorado. Grandkids David James and Ruth Ann Morehouse (Colorado.).

And now? Dave and Midge enjoy artistic pursuits. She favors watercolors. He "developed a past interest in pottery," functional and Raku. No hurling of crockery for this dear, peaceful couple; they even exhibit at art shows together -- including Salem's Art in the Alley last fall.

Celebration! Dave and Midge decided to celebrate their big anniversary for an entire year, kicking it off with a California trip last June. There was Vegas in November; soon Santa Fe, N.M.; then a party this coming June at their home, hosted by their children.

Plus -- in something of a tribute to Andrew Lewis High School, where it all started -- Midge is co-chair of the ALHS Class of 1960 50-year reunion in August.

Thoughts: Midge shared words of wisdom gleaned from those years as a counselor and a long-time married woman. Say, "develop mutual interests while encouraging separate identities and personal growth ... and always 'dance like nobody is watching.'"

Dave added that both he and his bride feel quite fortunate to have been teenagers in 1950s Salem.

Hooray, hooray: So here I'll raise a Cupid's bow to Dave and Midge.

And to ALL you sweethearts: Happy Valentine's Day! Let the chocolates begin.

Emily Paine Carter is a columnist for So Salem.