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James "Jim" and Naomi Ruth (Sheterom) Beach of Graystone Court, Roaring Spring, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019.
In honor of this milestone, their daughters held a luncheon at The Casino at Lakemont Park, Altoona, on Oct. 26 with 71 family members and friends in attendance.
As young children, Jim and Naomi met in the "Children's Tent" while attending the Central PA Bible Conference held at Lakemont Park. After one of the sessions when his mother came to get him, Jim pointed to a little girl on the other side of the tent and proclaimed, "See that blonde haired girl over there – I'm going to marry her some day!"
Time passed and Jim and Naomi saw each other almost every summer at the bible conference. They both attended Hollidaysburg High School, where Naomi would attend the basketball games in order to watch Jim as he managed the team. This continued until they graduated in 1958.
After graduation, their lives took different paths for a while. Jim joined the Army and Naomi worked at Puritan.
One Sunday, Naomi approached Jim's mother at church and said, "The young people of the church would like to write to your son, Jim." Naomi started writing to Jim and their romance blossomed. He proposed on her birthday in June 1959 and they were married Nov. 1, 1959, at the Grace Gospel Church, Lakemont.
Jim and Naomi lived in Lakemont and Hollidaysburg during their early years of marriage, and spent a few years living in Baltimore. During James' pastoral ministry, they lived in Altoona, Alexandria, Spruce Creek, Sharon, Hollidaysburg and Roaring Spring.
Jim retired after 45 years in the ministry, of which 31 years were spent as the pastor of Morrison Cove Baptist Church, Roaring Spring.
The couple have six daughters: Brenda Worley of Martinsburg, Ruth Ann (deceased), Susan Mohr (Scott) of New Enterprise, Debra Meade (Timothy) of Roaring Spring, Mary Grace Vinson of Glen Burnie, Md., and Melody Messersmith of Everett.
They have 12 grandchildren: Laura Grove; Samuel Mohr; David, Joseph and Sarah Meade; Jonathan "Drew," Joshua "Danny," and Thomas "Nathan" Vinson; Ruthanne Halaja; and Jason, Steven and Angela Kephart.
The couple have six great-grandchildren: Jackson and Elijah Grove; Hailey, Emily and Dawson Meade; and Astoria Kephart.
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