
Rest home fetes couple for 69 years of marriage
Roscoe and Pearl Wells have accomplished what few married couples ever do - stayed married for 69 years and look forward to an even rarer 70th anniversary next year.

The couple's anniversary was celebrated over cake on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Hale Aloha Convalescent Hospital in Ceres. Residents and family and friends like Margaret Hidahl stopped by.

Daughter Barbara Wells of Modesto said her parents' marriage longevity was made possible through "commitment and sticking it out in hard times."

Roscoe and Pearl were recently reunited at the Ceres care facility. Pearl - she is confined to a wheelchair - moved into Hale Aloha in 2010 after Roscoe cared for her at home for 12 years. Mr. Wells had spent some time at Bethel Assisted Living but then relocated to Hale Aloha in May. Because their needs differ, they have separate rooms.

"The nurses will tell you he will sit outside her room and wait for her to wake up and check on her," said Barbara. "He has been very committed to her their whole life."

The love story began when they met each other at a roller skating rink in Arizona in the 1940s. The story is told about them wanting to get married so they looked up a minister in Florence, Ariz. It turns out that the pastor was attending a rodeo. Somehow word made it to the rodeo announcer who summoned the pastor to get home to "rope and tie" the love sick teenagers. Roscoe was 18 on their wedding day of Nov. 28, 1942 and Pearl was 16.

Barbara remembers her parents being "very involved and very committed parents." Pearl was active in supporting school organizations and as a Ceres High band parent. Both did volunteer work in the Ceres community.

As they raised their daughters - their other daughter is Diane Mortensen of Visalia - at their Tenth Street house, Mr. Wells earned a living by managing the Summer's Poultry Ranch. The ranch occupied the area from Roeding Road to Whitmore Avenue and stretched out to the Melugin property. It was later bought out by Olson Brothers. Roscoe was a longtime member of the Masonic organization's Smyrna Masonic Lodge #532 and the Salvation Army Men's Fellowship Club.

Mrs. Wells has been a homemaker and member of the Salvation Army Home League and League of Mercy. She also was a volunteer with Heifer Project International.

Both are members of First United Methodist Church.

The Wellses have three grandchildren.