Warmest Wishes for your Anniversary!

Bill and Nel, 
So many memories and good talks we have had together.
We have been such good friends over the many years we have known each other.
The Bates Motel is always open and a DP in the frig.
Have a Blessed Anniversary.
A friend for ever, love Dollie

Congratulations from Brice and Erin Yocum

Nel and Bill,

       We have been so blessed by your example and your kindness.  It is so wonderful to see you celebrating 50 years of marriage.  You are such an inspiration to me and Erin.  I have thoroughly enjoyed learning from and with you over the past few years.  Your commitment to one another and your commitment to Christ and His body are proof of the power of Christ's teaching, loving God and loving others.   May you be blessed with many more years and may we all be blessed with your continued company.

Warmest Regards,

Brice and Erin Yocum

Congratulations Bill and Nel!

My most cherished memory of each of you is your willingness to listen first and then discuss any issue on our minds. Unfortunately this is a rare quality in today's world with all the "instant" communication available.  Really listening takes time and a true commitment to people.  So many people today are already thinking about something else before a conversation has ended.  We wish you a happy 50th and hope we'll get to see you at Pepperdine this year!

Nina Taylor

Happy 50th Anniversary, Bill and Nelda!!

 Once upon a time in the year nineteen hundred seventy three, a guy named Larry from Lompoc met a gal named Linda from Tustin.  They were both teachers and met at LAX….nine weeks later they ran into each other in Amsterdam and went sightseeing, out to dinner, and took in a movie.  A few weeks after returning home, Larry called and invited Linda to Lompoc to attend a high school football game and visit his church.  She stayed with his friends, Donna and Gary Ingraham.  She met many friendly Lompocians including the Huie family at church!! 

      A year later, Larry and Linda were married and living on 3^rd street in Lompoc.  It was so much fun having couples over for dinner….. we’re pretty sure the Huies were at Larry’s surprise 30^th birthday party at our new house in Vandenberg Village.  Linda had sent out invitations a few weeks earlier assured that the house would be finished and they would be moved in by Larry’s birthday.  Naïve!!!  After many calls, Linda got the electricity turned on 30 minutes before guests arrived.  We picnicked on the carpet and sat on packed boxes eating on a six foot sub sandwich.  

      We remember Nel’s crash while attempting to keep...(was it a coffee pot or crock pot) something from tipping over in her car…….we remember your friendship …..you being there to congratulate us on the births of our two oldest children….helping with the Joy Bus….later your daughters, Dianne and Sherri babysitting for us the first time we went out without our babies.

      FAST FORWARD many years…there’s Bill and Nel visiting at Visalia Community Church of Christ…Excellent…Larry and Linda immediately insisted on showing them around Visalia emphasizing how much cheaper real estate was in the valley compared to houses in Santa Barbara County.

     We are so thankful you decided to move to Visalia….it has been terrific knowing you as a young elder and his even younger wife, as the parents of terrific kids, as fellow Christians, and as friends.  

     50 years of marriage is remarkable…you are great role models as Christian parents and grandparents.  We send our warmest wishes for many more years of happiness.

                Happy Anniversary with love from,  Linda Rowe

Dear Bill and Nelda,

It was about 1970.  I was hired to teach at Cabrillo High School in Lompoc.  I found my way to the Church of Christ where everyone made a skinny young teacher feel welcome while feeding me good home cooking. 

I was pleased to get involved with the education department and later the Joy Bus Program.  Bill, you were an elder for the church during the years we lived in Lompoc.  Nelda was always there to support you.  The church in Lompoc flourished during those years, and it was no doubt largely due to the leadership and spiritual guidance of elders and their wives like the two of you.  I became a deacon serving as director of the Joy Bus Ministry and overseeing the K-12 education department. These works were successful because of you and your children. Your whole family could be counted on to help.  These programs were also successful because the elders held me accountable for my actions. Remember when I tore out a wall to enlarge a Bible classroom without discussing it with the elders. Oops!

 Bill and Nelda, you both instilled in your children a relationship with Jesus Christ from very early years.  You were great role models for your children and now grandchildren.

50 years is a successful marriage and again a good example for us all.  We wish you many more years of happiness. 

Happy Anniversary from Larry Rowe

Congratulations Nel and Bill

We are so grateful for the opportunity to know you and be loved by you for many years here in Lompoc. Your total love of God, each other and family is truly an example to not only us but to everyone around you. You are true examples of God's love for us and to the world. You have been such a great blessing, strength and help to us and we know that we are better Christians for having known you. Congratulations and have a great celebration

We love you and pray that you have many, many more years together.

Steve, Vickie and Chris

PS: We have truly loved and enjoyed your Jag

Congrats!

Wow!  50 years!  You know that makes you all our heroes! Heartfelt congratulations, Bill and Nelda. 
In reminiscing, what we appreciate learning most from you two is "Keep your sense of humor when your kids do something dumb."  Need we say  more than "Baskin Robbins" and/or "Don't take your gun to town, Son?" 
We pray continued blessings for you both.
Much love,
Jim and Jeannie  

Dear Bill and Nelda,

It's hard to know where to begin with the memories made while we were in Lompoc.  You two were part of the fabric that made our time there so great.  Your loving friendship, kind words, and Godly examples of fine parenthood are just a few of the ways that you touched our lives.  We thank you with all of our hearts for including us in your lives, and we pray that your 50th anniversary will be a glorious celebration of all that you have done, and continue to do to share yourselves with others, as I know you share with one another.  We love and miss you!  Come see us in Texas one of these days!  We'd love to come up your way too!  Blessings to you and all of your family,  
Cheryl and Ken Thornton

Dear Nel and Bill,

         CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 50 TH. ANNIVERSARY. WE HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF YOU. YOU HAVE BECOME OUR DEAR FRIENDS. STILL REMEMBER THE CHRISTMAS PARTY,DINNERS,AND JUST VISITING IN YOUR HOME.WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME WE SPENT TOGETHER .YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN COUPLE AND WE WISH YOU MANY MORE ANNIVERSARIES.    
                  LOVE YOU RON AND LORETTA BOWER 

Dearest Bill and Nell,

Congratulations on your 50 years together! You are truly an inspiration
and great example to all of us. Your love for our Lord and His word,
your family, and your church family is always evident. You are servants
to the core. I always felt your unconditional love and acceptance--you
made me feel as if I was one of your own children. Nel, I remember the
first time I walked into your home--so warm and inviting. Now that I'm a
"Mimi" I understand completely your excitement over each and every one
of your grandchildren and remember sitting down at your dining room
table looking at all of the recent photographs of them. They are all so
precious! How fun it's been to watch them grow now that we're on
Facebook and now you are sharing with me the wonders of being a
grandparent. It is the best thing. I'll always remember your amazing
cooking and baking! We did have some good times, didn't we? BSF, our
Wednesday morning Bible studies, our small group, and all of our mutual
wonderful friends. 

I know you will have a wonderful time celebrating this event with your
beautiful children and grandchildren who love you both so much. Life is good. 

Much love and blessings....

Jill Wilson 

Happy 50th Anniversary, Bill and Nelda!

May you have a wonderul life, (do you remember me the old lady) Love, Virginia Ulrich

Congratulations!

Bill and Nelda

You are some of our old friends (we're old also) your wonderful,

and Godly people.  So glad to have had you in our lives.

                             We love you, Ralph & Mary Ellen Heinrich

Happy 50th!

Bill and Nelda,

Best wishes to both of you on your anniversary.  You are so very special and 
such an inspiration to me.  I have so many fond memories of you that I will 
treasure forever.  HAPPY 50TH with many wonderful years ahead.

Love ya

Kim Bower

Happy 50th Bill and Nell!

Our relationship with you, Bill and Nell, has been, and is, very important to us. We have enjoyed traveling, both in the surrounding mountains in this area and in Hawaii and through the Canadian Rockies. We feel blessed to consider you among our best and closest friends, as well as fellow Christians.  

Jerry Snyder

Bill and Nelda,

Thought we would send a note to the "young marrieds" to wish you a very happy 50th anniversary!! If it is with you as it is with us, it seems just like yesterday when we walked down the isle. But, of course it wasn't!! Frank will turn 50 in a couple of years!! We can't believe we have a child nearly 50, but we look back at our wedding pictures and say, "Wow, we were just kids!"

We were so happy to see you guys and the kids last year. ("Excuse me, you said John, WHO? MERCY!!) My, we wish we looked as vibrant and health as you two did, but again, we are older!

It is wonderful that you reached this major milestone in your lives. May God continue to bless you as he has so far!

We love you,

Ray and Yvonne Allen

Happy 50th, Bill and Nelda!

"We remember fondly the visits with you to 'Fosters'. Have a wonderful day full
of memories." 
Love, Jim and Kerrol Williams.

Happy 50th Anniversary!

Bill and Nel,

It has been a pleasure getting to know you through Church! It's funny how we gravitate to the same seats every Sunday and you are always right in front of us...I guess we really are creatures of habit.

50 years...what an accomplishment in our society today! You are truly an inspiration of love, kindness, devotion and a Christ-centered marriage. We are thrilled with the opportunity to share this moment with you and we hope for many more celebrated anniversaries in the years to come.

Best Wishes to You!
LeAnne, Audra and Sawyer Pratt

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary  to You and Many More,  We so enjoy when You come back to US and Visit".    Love and Prayers  Debbie Tinney

Congratulations on your Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary. We enjoyed your friendship while you were living in Lompoc. It was fun seeing our daughters together during those years. We hope you enjoy many more years together.
Love,
Charles and Judith

Congratulations on your 50 years together!

Dearest Bill and Nel,

I am excited to extend my congratulations to you for 50 beautiful years together. You have always been such an inspiration to me and cherish you both!

I pray that God will bless you with many more years together.

Love,

Laura