Wilson -- 60 years

Ray and Eva Wilson of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a family dinner at Delmonico's Restaurant.

Wilson and the former Eva Nell Ward were married Sept. 2, 1956, at Central Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Rev. M.L. Moser Sr. performed the wedding ceremony.

They have two children, Donald Neal Wilson (Sarah) of Cape Girardeau and Sandra Johnson of Jonesville, North Carolina. They also have eight grandchildren: Anthony, Katarina, Samantha, Alexis, Dominick and Jonathan Wilson and Angel and John Johnson.

In 1957, Ray received his Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. He did summer studies at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas, passing the proficiency test in all instruments. He enjoyed teaching band. In 1970, he earned a master's degree in science education with an emphasis on counseling from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. In 1966, he accepted a job as a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the Missouri State Education Department. With this job, he moved his family to Cape Girardeau.

Eva received credits from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and Texas Women's University in Denton before moving to Cape Girardeau, where she completed the last three courses needed for a bachelor's degree in education. She also earned her master's degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University. In 1992 she was presented with the Meritorious Service to Education Award at the Southeast District teachers' meeting. After a teaching career of 30 years, 26 of those years at Nell Holcomb School, she retired in 1994. One of the joys of her life are the occasional notes or cards from former students and the big hugs when they see her out.