Recently Herbert and Elizabeth Gamblin celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with their family.

On May 5, 1954, Herbert Gamblin and Elizabeth Mitchell were united in marriage by Reverand Bill Jennings in the Shady Grove community approximately 6 miles East of Checotah.

Rev. Jennings, a grade school classmate of Herbert’s father, not only married than Gamblins but also married Elizabeth’s parents, Ed and Versa Mitchell, 25 years earlier in June, 1929.

In 1954, Herbert and Elizabeth arrived at Rev. Jenning’s home/country store in the early evening of May 5 along with both sets of parents to witness their vows and sign their wedding certificate.

Unbeknownst to the young couple, the prior week, Rev. Jennings had been inviting everyone in the entire Shady Grove community to attend the wedding and witness their vows. There were so many in atsecond.

tendance that Wednesday evening that the ceremony had to be moved across the street from Rev. Jenning’s home/ country store to the Shady Grove School/ Church to accommodate the yard full of well-wishers. Wedding attendees included Elizabeth’s parents, Ed and Versa Mitchell; Herbert’s parents, Aura and Walter Gamblin; Ellen and Willard Gamblin; Cathryn and Charlie Martin; Helen and Elsba Dobson; Mrs. Betchum; Ernest Gamblin; Norman Lane; and many other community residents.

Herb and Liz recall stepping outside the church/school house 70 years ago and being covered by a shower of rice as the newly married couple climbed the high stone steps leading from the school yard to their green 1941 Chevrolet parked alongside the gravel country road.

After marrying the newlyweds immediately traveled west to Hobbs, New Mexico, where Herbert was employed by the H. W. Billy Walker Trucking Company moving oil rigs between New Mexico, Colorado and Texas. Elizabeth worked in the meat market of Furr’s Grocery Store.

Returning to Oklahoma in late 1954, Herb and Liz lived in the Checotah area, building their family home on Soda Springs Road where they reared their two daughters; Sherry of Haskell, OK and Terrye of San Diego, CA. The Gamblins also have two granddaughters, Kelley Hamm and Abbey Vandyke, and one greatgranddaughte, Kagean Vandyke.

Prior to his marriage, Herb served on small craft in the U.S. Navy from 1948-1952 and recalls being stationed at Pearl Harbor in 1950 when the Korean Conflict began. Then Herb worked in the automobile industry for over 40 years and Liz owned and operated Gamblin Real Estate in Checotah for over 35 years.

The Gamblins are also members of the First Baptist Church of Checotah.