47th Wedding Anniversary

It is fun to remember the greatest days of our lives.

Today in 1975, Renée English and I were married at Grace Church in Roanoke VA by Dr. Jack Arnold, who was her pastor. We had been introduced there too, in May 1973 when I was taken there by my pastor, Dr. Martin Clark from Blacksburg to a meeting of which he was part, the Sovereign Grace Theological Society. Renée was attending that day too—a high school senior and interested in things-theological. We were introduced by another attendee at that meeting, Professor Robert Whitelaw (Nuclear Engineering at Va. Tech). He introduced her as a forthcoming Virginia Tech freshman that fall. Renée was already accepted to Trinity College in Illinois but changed plans almost at the last minute as a high school instructor of hers invited her to visit Va Tech with her for a day that spring. She was introduced to the Director of Admissions, was interested in the College of Home Economics and a major called Clothing, Textiles and Related Arts and even though it was late in the application process was invited by the Admissions Director to apply anyway. The Lord changes our plans sometimes! I am glad he does. When she arrived at Va Tech, I was picking students up for rides to our church (College Baptist Church, now called Harvest Baptist Church) and so we met again. We began dating the next spring, I was smitten with her, and upon my graduation from Va Tech (also called VPI&SU) in June 1975 and subsequently getting a job as an engineer, we were married back at Grace Church on this day of that year. My best man was Sandy Young (Va Tech 1973). I was also “groomed” by Lorenzo Bean (a fellow roommate and also new convert to Christ), T. Basil Finnegan and Renée’s brother, Morley. Renée was attended by her matron of honor, sister Susan—married herself that April—best friends Susan Brzostek, Emily Baldwin and Mindy Gilroy. Renée and I honeymooned at Smith Mountain Lake and then began life together in Falls Church, Virginia. I worked for R.M. Vredenburg & Co. under contract with Naval Sea Systems Command and Renée got a job at F.W. Woolworth at Tysons Corner Center while also resuming college at Northern Virginia Community Collage. We lived on Iroquois Lane, off Route 7 in Falls Church, behind George Marshall High School. We found and joined Charity Baptist Church in McLean after also visiting Barcroft Bible Church in Arlington. Charity had been planted by architect Russell Jenkins who had designed most of the buildings at Cedarville University in Ohio. Russell’s sons and wives were our first friends after we were married. Russell remained a good friend for many years.