DeLand couple celebrate milestone anniversary

BEACON PHOTO/SARAHROSE MINISTERI
Amazing — Betty, left, and the Rev. Al Goddard share old photos of 70 years' worth of adventures.

They make 70 years look easy

By Sarahrose Ministeri
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jan 9, 2013 - 6:12:03am

Seventy years of marriage is quite a feat, especially in this day and age. But one DeLand couple, the Rev. Al and Betty Goddard, sure do make it look easy.

"We've had a fantastic life," the Rev. Goddard said.

The couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a root-beer-float party Dec. 19 at Woodland Towers. Activities Director Mindy Rosario organized the event, which was crowded with more than 100 guests.

"We met in a small town called Clinton, Iowa, in 1941. The place to go for a date was the root-beer stand, and that's where we went on our first date," Mrs. Goddard said.

The young couple fell in love quickly and decided to elope in December of 1942. Mr. Goddard was already signed up in the Navy. They took a train to Kahoka, Mo., where they were married in a courthouse ceremony.

"There was a war on. We had to do things our way," the Rev. Goddard said.

And they have been doing things their way ever since.

They have lived in several states, and the Rev. Goddard was an active minister for 55 years. They have a daughter, Stana Young of DeBary; a son, Thomas, passed away at age 39.

Thomas was born ill and with mental disabilities. The young parents became advocates for mental-health care and education. The Rev. Goddard even worked alongside Bobby Kennedy to ensure SSI benefits for mentally disabled people.

The couple also have a grandson, Tod Smith (whose wife is Dawn), and a great-granddaughter, Aerial.

"We had a lot of adventures," the Rev. Goddard said.

The couple enjoyed their anniversary celebration, especially the special gift of a performance by a friend's band, Bailey's Best.

"Mindy [Rosario] did a wonderful job arranging the party," the Rev. Goddard said.

Next, the couple will celebrate another milestone, their birthdays. Both were born Feb. 8. The Rev. Goddard joked that part of the reason he married Mrs. Goddard was that he would never forget her birthday.

The Goddards agreed there is no real secret to their lasting marriage.

"We love each other, and we made a vow that we were going to keep," Mrs. Goddard said.

— sarahrose@beaconlinenews.com

Reader Comments

The comments posted below are posted by readers, not by The Beacon staff. These comments express the views and opinions of the authors, and not the administrators, moderators or webmaster. The comments forum is governed by these rules. Please use the report abuse link if you find offensive comments.

Comment on this article

Commenting is closed for this article.

If you would like to contribute a letter to the editor, please click here.

Did you find this story interesting or informative? Subscribe to The West Volusia Beacon to read more stories by Sarahrose Ministeri, along with others from our award-winning writers. Subscribe now!