Site Administrator posted on September 12, 2008 15:59
They looked resplendent and glowing on their “thrones” as guests arrived August 24, 2008, with a smaller version of the golden anniversary cake between them that read “Spence and Darlene Hall, 50 Years of Happiness.” Their daughter, Tina Hudgins, had made all the arrangements for a lovely open house: from the sparkling huge, green grapes and strawberries, hors d’ovres meatballs and cold stuffed chicken salad pasta shells to small bottles of water tied with gold ribbons and labeled with her parents’ names and anniversary dates. In preparation for the event, Tina asked to dig through their box of pictures and came across an 8mm reel of movie film that Spence and Darlene had never seen of their wedding day. With a click of modern technology and it was up and running on a DVD for all to watch along with blown up pictures of where they took their honeymoon and first lived 50 years ago!
Special guests who attended were: Darlene's sister and nephew Marge and Jim Hakes from North Carolina, Spence's sister and nephew, Geraldine and Bill Davies, from Falls Church, VA, and Darlene's cousin and wife, Tim and Wendy McPherson, from Pennsylvania.
Spence and Darlene Hall met in 1956 when they both went to work for Robbins & Myers, which manufactured and serviced industrial hoists and cranes. Spence worked as an industrial service technician and Darlene was the secretary in the office. They started dating in 1957 and married on August 24, 1958. Darlene worked there until January, 1961, when their daughter, Tina, joined the family. Darlene planned to stay home and be a mother and housewife.
In the fall of 1961 Robbins & Myers decided to go out of the service business and gave it to Spence and Darlene. For the next 5 years they became self-employed. Spence did service in the entire Detroit and suburban area on hoists and cranes (both electrical and mechanical) and Darlene did all the office work required. In 1966 a client offered Spence a package for employment that he could not resist. After that time he worked in service and machine repair for several steel warehouses in Detroit. They lived in northern suburbs of Detroit. In 1968 Spence was baptized and joined the Troy S.D.A. church and both Darlene and Spence were active in the church.
When Tina was about 13, Darlene went back to work part-time, then full time when Tina went to Andrews in 1978. From 1980 to 1990 she was a legal secretary. In 1990 Spence was involved in a very serious industrial accident and spent two years in therapy medical care and had to take medical retirement. Darlene spent those two years caring for him. The Lord is good and he did recover, much to the surprise of many of the doctors.
Through sickness and health these two have learned to lean on the Lord and take care of each other. It’s always a joy to see such family devotion.