Thompsons celebrate 55 years

    Bonnie and Bill Thompson of Jacksonville, Fla, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary with family and friends at Sam’s St. Johns Seafood Restaurant in Jacksonville.
    Their original bride and groom cake top was used for the anniversary cake.
    Bonnie was born in Houlton to Ralph and Donna Gove of Linneus. She has a brother Arthur who lives in New Limerick with his wife, Geni.
    Bill was born in Jacksonville. He joined the Air Force and was stationed in Presque Isle during the Korean Conflict and met his wife on a blind date.
Contributed photo
CELEBRATING 55 — Bill and Bonnie Rae Gove Thompson celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in Jacksonville, Fla. with their sons Kurt and Pride and other family members. The Thompsons met on a blind date. Bonnie grew up in Linneus.
    The newlyweds had an apartment in Houlton for a couple of months until Bill reported for duty in Iceland and Bonnie moved in with her parents for a year.
    After Bill finished his tour of duty and returned to Maine, he had the bus driver drop him off near the Gove home so he could surprise his wife. He surprised her all right, as she had been helping her uncle Byron Gove dig potatoes all day and was quite dirty.
    In 1955, they moved to Florida to complete his military service and settled in Jacksonville where Bill worked for Southern Bell Telephone Company for 34 years.
    The Thompson’s have two sons, Kurt and Pride.
    To sum up their 55 years of marriage: A wedding anniversary is … the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year. This is attributed to Paul Sweeny.