Lynn:  I graduated from Miamisburg High School in June 1967, at age 17.

Steve:  I had graduated the previous year, and was in Wilmington College, working hard at football and studies.    But the war in Vietnam loomed.  When I received a ‘C’ in Calculus, I received my draft notice in short order.   The Air Force gave me an option to enlist which I took, but my career assignment after basic training to munitions maintenance meant that I did not escape a tour in Vietnam.

Lynn:  We were determined to marry, but we had to do LOTS of talking with our concerned parents.  We were engaged in August of 1967, two months after my graduation.

Steve:  Actually, The day I officially asked Lynn to marry me, I got into a pick-up baseball game at Mark Twain School playground with some friends, which made me late for our engagement date.  I don’t think Lynn ever knew that.   Facing Lynn’s father, my pastor, sitting behind his home office desk and asking him for his daughter’s hand was one of the most intimidating things I ever had to do.

Lynn:  We began making wedding plans.  I asked my Pastor/Dad to walk me down the aisle before performing the wedding service.  He didn’t see it as a possibility, since he would be officiating the service.  I told him, “It isn’t my fault that you are both my father and my pastor!”

Steve:  A plan was subsequently hatched whereby Lynn’s father would be dressed in his robe and surplus, walk her down the aisle, then be handed his stole by my father.