J. Reverdy and Carol Allender of Oak Harbor will celebrate 50 years of marriage Friday, Aug. 19. They were married in the base chapel at Hamilton Air Force Base in California in 1961.

Their meeting was accidental. Rev was a fighter pilot in the 83rd Fighter Squadron and Carol was working at the base hospital in the flight surgeon’s office. Rev had to bail out of his F-104 fighter over San Francisco Bay, and Carol was the secretary who did the accident report.

Four months later he had to eject from another F-104 fighter due to engine failure. AFter doing the second accident reporter, Carol accepted an invitation to go flying with Rev in an Aero Club airplane.

They truly met “by accident” but staying married 50 years was a blessing, not an accident. They will celebrate with a renewal of vows and a reception with their three daughters at Family Bible Church in Oak Harbor. They plan to take their daughters, Deborah Johnstone and husband Larry, Lori Nemes and husband Jeff, Janet Drew and husband Meshak and five grandsons on a cruise to Alaska in autumn.