Childers 60th

CHILDERS 60th

Martin and Patricia Childers celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception at the Granger (Wash.) Church on April 26, 2015 where they were joined by family and friends.

Martin Childers and Pat Fry first met in the second grade when attending Granger Elementary Church School, although at that time marriage was the farthest thing from their minds.

Martin was born in Yakima, Wash., in 1936 and lived in Wapato, Wash., until age 7 when his family moved to a farm near Toppenish, Wash. Martin attended Upper Columbia Academy (UCA) for his junior year and Auburn Adventist Academy (AAA) for his senior year of high school, graduating from AAA in 1954.

Pat was born in Cedar Grove, Tenn., in 1936. Her family moved to Crew Port, Wash., when Pat was 7 years old and she attended Granger Elementary Church School. When Pat was 12 years old her family moved to Pendleton, Ore., and she attended Upper Columbia Academy (UCA) in Spangle, Wash., for her junior and senior years of high school, graduating from UCA in 1954. Although Pat’s family had moved, Pat returned to the Yakima Valley regularly to visit her grandmother, aunt and uncle. During those visits after graduating from academy she would see Martin.

Martin and Pat were married April 24, 1955 in Pendleton and lived near Toppenish, where Martin farmed with his father. Martin and Pat bought their own farm near Toppenish in 1961 where they continue to live today. Martin farmed row crops including sugar beets, wheat, sweet corn and in later years mint. Pat supported Martin on the family farm and was a home maker for their two children. Pat also enjoyed photography, taking many senior portraits, family photos and wedding photos. Martin retired from farming in 2010.

Martin and Pat enjoyed many days water skiing with their children and when possible trips to California to visit relatives. In recent years they have enjoyed traveling, visiting the Washington and Oregon coasts and visiting many National Parks and family across the USA.

Martin and Pat both were active supporters of church school as their children grew; volunteering to help with school activities, sitting on committees and participating on the school board. They continue to be active participants of the Granger Church where Pat is the church organist and teaches in the junior Sabbath School class and Martin is an elder, member of the board and helps with projects at the church.

The Childers family includes their daughter, Sherri Ann Flynt of Altamont Springs, Fla.; their son, Michael K. Childers of Toppenish, Wash.; and Pat’s mother, Bessie Fry of Milton-Freewater, Ore.