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70 years of marriage and counting

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 11, 2007

Benjamin and Charlotte Katon of Largo were married Aug. 22, 1937, in New York City and recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with family and friends.

Mr. Katon began his working in career in New York with college degrees in English and education. Teaching positions proved difficult to find, so he went into the dry cleaning business with his brothers.

The Katons moved to Florida in 1973. Mr. Katon, then in his early 60s, got his state teacher's license and worked as a substitute. He also became a licensed real estate agent.

"My father keeps on reinventing himself," said his daughter, Marilyn Katz of St. Petersburg. "He retired when he was 90 after working in advertising specialties for the last 25 years."

While living in New York, Mrs. Katon was employed as a bookkeeper. She continued that career after moving here, as well as managing a medical office for 30 years. She was 85 when she retired.

Mr. Katon was a former member of Temple B'nai Israel in Clearwater, and his wife is a life member of Hadassah and the National Council of Jewish Women.

The Katons have three children, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.The couple reside at Royal Palms of Largo and remain very active

* * *

Max and Betty Hendrick of Homosassa, formerly of Largo, were introduced by Betty's cousin, Carl Baker. He and Mr. Hendrick served in the Army, and both were stationed at Fort Knox, Ky.

The couple dated for two months before deciding to marry. They took their vows July 2, 1957, at the Salem County Courthouse alongside Betty's cousin Carl and his fiance.

They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a party at the Palm Harbor home of their daughter, Denise Moody, with friends and family, including two granddaughters.

In 1957, Mr. Hendrick was discharged after serving eight years in the Army, and the couple moved to Clearwater from Elizabethtown, Ky.

Mr. Hendrick went into roofing and worked as a foreman for Above All Roofing in Clearwater, and Mrs. Hendrick worked as the office secretary. In the early 1960s, the couple started Hendrick's Roofing, which is still family run today. Mrs. Hendrick worked for 7-Eleven convenience stores for a time and later became the secretary for the family's roofing business.

The Hendricks retired in 1998 and relocated to Homosassa. Mr. Hendricks enjoys gardening and they both enjoy watching football, baseball and racing.

* * *

Charles Jr. and Erlene Ramsey of Largo were married Aug. 29, 1947, in Kansas City, Mo., and recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends at the Wine Cellar restaurant.

They came to Florida in 1968, living originally in St. Petersburg before moving to Largo.

Mr. Ramsey is an Army veteran of the Korean War. He retired after 25 years as a manager for GTE Directory Printing.

Mrs. Ramsey sold women's fashions at Sears and Lord & Taylor department stores. She was also very active in the school lives of her son and daughter and maintains the same interest with her four grandchildren. She has worked with the Band Boosters of Dixie Hollins and Tyrone middle schools.

The couple are members of Faith Presbyterian Church in Seminole, where Mrs. Ramsey is active in youth fellowship with her grandchildren.

Mr. Ramsey is an avid golfer with four holes-in-one to his credit.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey graduated from East High School, Kansas City.

* * *

Jim and Irma Lancaster were married Aug. 31, 1957, at the East End Baptist Church of Brooklyn, N.Y. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., with their children, their children's spouses and seven grandchildren. A church celebration was held for them Aug. 10 in the grand lobby of Calvary Baptist Church of Clearwater, with 246 guests in attendance.

The couple met 51 years ago at the Clearwater campus of Trinity Bible College in Trinity.

Mr. Lancaster traveled for more than 24 years as a musical and preaching itinerant evangelist. During this time, he visited 47 states and 34 foreign countries with more than 70 mission trips, took hundreds of young people on work missions and gave 1,400 musical concerts across America. He then pastored for 15 years. For the last nine, he has been senior adult pastor at Calvary Baptist Church. He holds an honorary doctorate from Trinity Bible College, has been named in Who's Who in Religion and holds a commendation from President Gerald Ford.

Mrs. Lancaster is a homemaker and Bible teacher.

The Lancasters have three children who all are full-time ministers. Jim Lancaster Jr. is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, La.; Valerie Richards is minister of worship at the World Outreach Center International of Tarpon Springs; and Mark Lancaster is a minister of praise and worship at the Englewood Baptist Church of Nashville, Tenn.

Clearwater teen earns Eagle Scout status

Kevin O'Leary of Clearwater has earned the rank of Eagle Scout and was recognized at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Aug. 18. He is a member of Troop 135, chartered to Heritage United Methodist Church in Clearwater.

Kevin's Eagle project was a tile mural he built and installed at Countryside High School with the help of 25 volunteers. Altogether, they spent 310 man-hours on the project.

In 2001, Kevin earned the Arrow of Light and has served Troop 135 in several leadership positions, earned 28 merit badges and enjoyed many camping outings through the years. He has earned certification in BSA Scouting and in PADI Scuba and attended the high adventure programs at Sea Base in the Florida Keys and the Northern Tier Canoe Base in Canada.

A senior at Countryside High, Kevin is a member of the varsity swim team, concert band, jazz band and National Honor Society. He also participates in club swimming year-round, plays the piano and bassoon and is a member of the Pinellas Youth Symphony.

He hopes to attend either the University of Florida or the University of Central Florida and study engineering.

Kevin is the son of Mike and Linda O'Leary of Clearwater.

Local Explorer program sends teen to academy

Thomas G. Garmon, Jr. of Oldsmar, a sergeant in the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Explorer Post 900, recently returned from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., where he attended the 2007 National Law Enforcement Exploring Academy. The event was hosted by the U.S. Army's 701st Military Police Battalion.

Cpl. Robert Bauman, the explorer post advisor, suggested Thomas apply for this academy. The 16-year-old's application, along with an essay on "What Law Enforcement Means To Me," earned him a place as the only Florida representative out of 25 law enforcement Explorers from around the country.

Thomas learned about many different aspects of life in the military police, including hostage negotiation, protective services and antiterrorism, and he participated in physical training, rappelling and weaponry.

The week culminated with a graduation ceremony where he was awarded a regimental coin for leadership and participation.

Thomas is the son of Dr. Thomas G. and Leigh Garmon of Oldsmar. He is a junior in the International Baccalaureate Program at Palm Harbor University High School.

Palm Harbor man earns dual degrees

Thomas Robert Beers, 24,graduated from the University of Florida in August with a dual degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering.

Thomas earned grades that put him on the College of Engineering's dean's list. He is the son of William and Denise Beers of Palm Harbor, and brother of Linsey Marie Beers of Dunedin.

Thomas is a 2002 graduate of Palm Harbor University High School's Baccalaureate Program.

He lives in Palm Harbor and will work for Opinicus, an engineering company in Lutz.

Student lands in Morton Plant program

Linsey Marie Beers, 21, received admission to the Dr. George Morris Earn as You Learn Program offered by Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater.

She graduated from Palm Harbor University High School's medical magnet program in 2004 and received an associate's degree in 2006 from St. Petersburg College.

Linsey, a Dunedin resident, will continue with Morton Plant Hospital and two more years of college to complete her registered nursing degree.

She is the daughter of William and Denise Beers of Palm Harbor, and sister of Thomas Robert Beers, all of Palm Harbor.

[Last modified October 11, 2007, 06:42:39]