Commitments Stand the Test of Time

They met at picnics, on blind dates or at Halloween dances a lifetime ago. Sodas cost a nickel back then, or maybe a dime. Eisenhower, Roosevelt or Hoover was president, and the Ventura County Fair was only five days long.

On Tuesday, couples who had been married at least 40 years celebrated their unions at the fair’s annual “Blessing of Marriage.”

The event led off Senior Citizen Day, when patrons over age 55 were admitted free. A seniors-only dance contest followed the blessing, and Debbie Reynolds performed at the Grandstand Arena in the afternoon.

Prices, presidents and fashions can change a lot in 40 years, but at the blessing ceremony, one look at the capacity crowd of senior lovebirds--some holding hands, some dressed in matching western wear--and it was clear that love can be eternal.

Even with a morning fog still hanging low, straw hats and sun visors were de rigueur, and copies of the fair’s daily schedule of events served as makeshift fans as the couples bowed their heads in prayer. Pastor John Martin of Ventura’s Church of the Foothills led the mass ceremony and later greeted each couple individually and had them tell the crowd how long they’ve been married.

“We celebrate the marriage partners who show the rest of us how it’s done,” Martin said, standing under a white lattice arbor next to a table covered with a wedding cake, punch bowl and other wedding-reception trappings.

“I love it. This has got to be the high point of my year,” Martin said.

The fair has put on the blessing ceremony for 17 years, and each year the number of participants grows. On Tuesday, 34 couples signed the guest list, but fair publicist Teri Raley said that with all 200 seats occupied, obviously far more couples came.

The ceremony is a few-frills event: simple refreshments, carnation corsages and ribbons for each couple, so production values hardly explain its popularity. But Ann Victoria Spiller, who organized the ceremony, thinks the couples are aware that in an age of high divorce rates, their marriages stand out.

“It’s a time to get recognized in front of a big audience,” Spiller said. “And also I think it brings back a lot of memories of their own weddings.”

Many pairs return year after year and treasure the blue ribbons they’re given to mark the moment.

One Ventura couple, 89-year-old John Mihld and his 87-year-old wife, Katherine, have collected all 17 ribbons. Married 69 years, the couple received thundering applause Tuesday for being married the longest.

But for most, just reaching the 40-year mark was reason enough to attend. Lee and Morna Larew of Oxnard celebrated their 40th anniversary two months ago and have been looking forward to being able to attend the ceremony.

Lee even called Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, the event’s sponsor, to see what he and Morna had to do to participate.

“The bank said, ‘Just show up,’ ” Larew said, holding his wife’s hand. “So we did.”

The pair met at a Halloween dance in Orlando, Fla., Lee said. He thought Morna was “the greatest thing” he ever saw. She said he “chased me until I caught him.”

Four kids, 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren later, they still love dances, parties and carnivals, Morna said.

“Fairs are great for kids, and we’re still in our second childhood,” she said.

Fair attendance was 104,790 through Monday, compared with 135,020 at the same time last year, officials said. The drop was attributed in part to a two-day delay in the opening of the carnival this year, and in part to the popularity of the Beach Boys, who attracted 13,000 to their Monday night concert last year. Little Richard drew 5,000 to his Monday night concert this year.

The fair runs through Sunday.

After the renewal ceremony, octogenarian Frank Umbro and his trio played music for fox trots and rumbas as 10 couples dipped and swirled in the seniors dance contest.

Jim and Betty DeGraffenreid of Ventura, runners-up last year, won the competition. They credited their title to dancing up to five nights a week at venues all across the west county.

At the Grandstand Arena, Debbie Reynolds drew raves as she performed Broadway and country-western hits for the crowd.

“She’s very energetic,” said 70-something Lucille Wilson of Camarillo, admiring Reynolds’ rendition of a song from “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”

“I saw her autobiography on TV last night,” Wilson said. “She’s been in the business 50 years, so she’s no spring chicken.”