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Good For You

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 24, 2007

Henry "Hank" and Jean Larvia of Largo were married Oct. 4, 1947, and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Oct. 7 with a small gathering of family and friends.

The couple came here in 1979 from Troy, N.Y.

He worked 32 years with New York Telephone Co. and she was a homemaker. They both worked for Freedom Square before retiring.

The Larvias have four children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

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Frank and Betty DeVito of Largo celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 29.

He is a native of Waterbury, Conn., and she hails from Glasgow, Scotland. Their first meeting was at a church dance in Connecticut and, after a short engagement, they were married on Aug. 29, 1957.

He worked as a carpenter and retired from Creative Contractors in Clearwater.

The couple are members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Largo and volunteer with the Largo Kitchen Band, a singing group that performs locally at nursing homes, retirement centers and special events.

The DeVitos have two sons, Joe DeVito, Miami, and John DeVito, Largo; a daughter, Catherine DeVito, St. Petersburg; and two grandchildren, Samantha DeVito and Spencer DeVito, both of Largo.

- - -e_SClBMorris and Norma Rannels of Clearwater met as teenagers attending the same high school in Annapolis, Md., and recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. They were wed Sept. 21, 1942, in St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Annapolis.

Morris Rannels was an educator for 40 years in the Maryland public school system. He worked as a teacher and supervisor, then as a Cecil County superintendant of schools before retiring as director of transportation for the Maryland State Board of Education.

He also served four years in the Navy during World War II.

Mrs. Rannels studied business at the Strayer College of Baltimore and was working for the Naval Academy Personnel Office when they married. She later became a full-time homemaker and mother of six.

The couple moved to Clearwater in 1979, where they've pursued interests such as circle net fishing, smoking fish, playing bridge, gardening, volunteering and supporting the Florida Sheriff's Youth programs.

Rannels, now 92, still styles his own "Papa pizza" and when the hibiscus flowers are blooming, makes sure to fill two single-bloom vases daily for his wife.

Mrs. Rannels is a good cook and has a knack for making guests in her home feel special.

The Rannelses have six children, James Rannels of Springfield, Va., Connie Kerr of Cleveland, Ohio, Norman Rannels of Thendara, N.Y., Jo Ann Bankert of Columbia, Md., Vicki Stofel of Monroe, Ohio, and Jay Rannels of Wake Forest, N.C., as well as 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

* * *

Wayne and Betty Lacosse of Clearwater celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in Illinois recently with family and friends.

The couple married on Oct. 5, 1947, in Kankakee, Ill., and came here in 1947.

Lacosse was a Navy veteran of World War II and worked for the U.S. Postal Service. He is a member of the American Legion, Masonic Lodge and Chicago's Medina Shrine Temple.

Mrs. Lacosse was employed by Sears. She is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

The couple enjoy traveling and golfing.

They have a son, Mitchel Lacosse of Dunedin, and a daughter, Laura Golowsli of Kankakee.

[Last modified October 23, 2007, 23:05:10]