As of March 6, 2011, Ernest and Lois Weatherly will celebrate a big milestone as they will be married for 65 years.

They met in Seattle, Wash., in May 1945. Ernest was a Navy Radar Man on the USS Renshaw DD499, and the ship had been torpedoed Feb. 22, 1945, in the Mindanao traits and came to Seattle for major repairs. Ernest met Lois, a student in West Seattle, and they were married March 6, 1946, in Helena, Mont.

After being assigned duty in New Orleans in the Navy, Ernest and Lois settled into the married couples housing until June 1946. Upon Ernest’s Honorable Discharge in June 1946, the couple moved back to Lebanon. This was a big adjustment for Lois as she recalled there was no air conditioning and the climate was much hotter than her hometown in the Northwest.

Ernest was employed at the Capitol and Princess Theaters in Lebanon until 1953 when Lux Time came to Lebanon. Ernest accepted employment with Lux Time where he served as Personnel Manager and Purchasing Agent for 37-plus years. Lois was employed with Draper and Darwin Stores as accountant for 37 years. She was active in the Lebanon Business and Professional Women’s Club and was instrumental in getting the Lebanon Senior Citizens Center started.

The Weatherlys have two daughters, Karen Garner and Darlene (Gary) Enzfelder; three grandchildren, Glen R. Enzfelder, Erin (Justin) Smith and Joy (David) Pine; and three great-grandchildren, Ella Kate Pine, Sienna Carin Pine and Eden Monroe Pine. Great-granddaughter number four, Sofie Smith, is due in March.

The Weatherlys are members of Bartons Creek Baptist Church.