Couple celebrates 80 years of wedded bliss

It may or may not mark a state or even a national record, but Downeasters know for certain that Kathleen and Waldo Tarbell's 80th wedding anniversary on April 9 of this year precipitated its own record as media went ballistic.

Interviews by newspapers, wire service and TV told of the Pembroke couple's meeting at a dance in Charlotte and their 1927 wedding in Calais. Both grew up on farms, she in Pembroke, he in Meddybemps. They confirmed at a reception on March 31 in their honor held at Oceanview Nursing Home in Lubec that she's now 99, he's 101, with more birthdays to come this June and July. Their two children, Elliott, who lives in Marshfield and served in the U.S. Navy, and Helen, now Mrs. Brown of Pembroke, attended the reception with other multi-generation family members from babies to grown-ups.

Cameras were at the ready, and Kathleen and Waldo posed graciously for all. The family brought luscious, decorated cake to highlight a festive "groaning board" of refreshments, and other guests entertained throughout the afternoon. Pastor Rob Green of Lubec's Ridge Baptist Church sang "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen," accompanied by his wife, Vonnie, on the accordion. Pastor Gary Kinney of the Pembroke Baptist Church played guitar as his wife, Iva, sang "Amazing Grace."

"He knew it's my favorite," confided Kathleen in a later interview. Pastor Kinney also spoke about the delicious homemade apple pies he'd enjoyed at the Tarbells' home in Pembroke, reminding Kathleen of a visitor from Georgia years before who had also praised her pie baking. "I'd been to Georgia," she remembers, "and I thought pecan pie there was great. So I made it my way, and the visitor said it was the best he'd ever eaten anywhere." A quartet of young family members also serenaded the guests of honor, and one of the girls followed in a solo on the violin.

In the later interview at Oceanview, Kathleen and Waldo held hands as usual. Oceanview's Mary Ramsdell notes, "He also kisses her every night before bed." During that and earlier interviews and at the reception, Waldo let Kathleen do most of the talking while he beamed at her proudly. Kathleen says, "He doesn't hear too well, and he's always been quiet, never spoke up much." She giggles, "Unlike me."

"Do you quarrel?" she's asked and answered promptly, "All the time. But just about little things, something foolish." Noting that Waldo has never smoked or been interested in alcohol, Kathleen takes a moment to consider what he's like, as if for the first time, then announces, "You know, he really isn't my type." More giggles. She recalls that it was love at first sight for both of them. "Girls get him going," she quips, squeezing his hand, and he rejoins with a chuckle.

Portraits of the couple and a story board of favorite family snapshots in different years were displayed at the reception. Kathleen especially likes the framed picture of them at their 25th anniversary. "That's the first time we had a real party." She explains, "For our honeymoon, we went to an arcade. Well, I worked at the sardine factory, and he on the railroad. We were always busy. And in that time, people didn't make a great fuss over things. It's so different now."

In their room at Oceanview, a color photo shows a handsome dog that the couple tell they dearly loved. "We called her Foxy Lady, and she had a happy life, living to be 14. She was very special." As Kathleen and Waldo look forward to their upcoming birthdays this summer, everyone who has the privilege of knowing them will agree that, in the many remarkable ways that true love endures, they're both also very special.