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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-11-08, Page 8FAMILY It's never too late for love 88 -year-old marries 81 -year-old girlfriend Heather Scoftield EXETER - It took them almost 70 years to find each other again, but Erma Scoffield and Gerry Do- brindt have finally tied the knot. Mrs. Scoffield is 81, a great grandmother from Exeter. Mr. Dobrindt is an 88 -year-old great grandfather from London. The pair met more than 69 years ago at a parochial school in Fish- erville on Lake Erie. Mrs. Scoffield was the star pupil. Mr. Do- brindt a teach- er fresh out of training. "'['he girls all liked Gerry very much. We thought he was just fine," recalls Mrs. Scoffield. "He was so nice, good looking, with nice wavy hair and a smile." They were married at the Lu- theran church in Dashwood on Saturday. "I think there must have been some divine intervention," says Dobrindt one sunny day leading up to the wedding. The two rekindled their relation- ship in June 1990. Mr. Dobrindt, a writer and for- mer school board administrator, had a poem published in a Luther- an church magazine. Mrs. Scoffield read the poem and recogeized the poet's name from her days as a pupil in Fisher- ville and then a teacher in Fort Erie. Mr. Dobrindt had authored several textbooks and teachers' guides used in schools across Canada -- including Mrs. Scof- field's school in Fort Erie. Mrs. Scoffield made the first move. She tracked down Mr. Dobrindt in London, surprised an old ac- quaintance would be living so close by. Not only did Mr. Dobrindt re- member her immediately, he could recall the names of her three older sisters. They exchanged phone calls and letters, but didn't meet in per- son until three months later. Mr. Dobrindt, who is legally blind, was being driven home to London from his cottage in South- ampton. The car needed fixing, so the driver stopped in Exeter. They were told it would take an hour and a half. Mr. Dobrindt jumped at the chance to see Mrs. Scoffield again. He phoned her and they ar- ranged to walk towards each other and meet on Main Street. He gave' her a big hug. She was beautiful. "I thought, 'There's sweet, little Erma'. The first thing she said was 'I thought I'd never see you again," says Mr. Dobrindt, his blue eyes sparkling. They went back to her place and had tea. They shared mem- ories of the old one -room schoolhouse in Fisherville, `w and found they were very comfortable with each other. "We always have lots to talk about", says Mrs. Scoffield, a giggling, nervous bride before the big day. "It just grew to the point where we became indispensable to each other," she says. They spoke together every day on the phone, with Mrs. Scoffield reading to Mr. Dobrindt and Mr. Dobrindt sharing his thoughts with Mrs. Scoffield. "It's a whole new dimension -- a closeness that we had both lost and probably never thought we'd recover," says the groom. Both had been married before. Mrs. Scoffield lost her husband in 1972 and Mr. Dobrindt's wife died 10 years later. The new couple spent 10 days together last summer and decided living alone -- and lonely -- was not for them. "We just can't go through an- other winter like this," says Mr. Dobrindt. But it took him a while to pop the question. They both had marriage on the mind for months before Mr. Do- brindt actually proposed. Mrs. Scoffield spent a lot of time with Dobrindt, helping him memorize a poem by Lord Alfred Tennyson. At one point in the poem, a couple discusses marriage. He wants to get married. She keeps putting him off. They wonder to- gether if it's possible to love twice in a lifetime. Finally he pro- poses. Every time Mrs. Scoffield and Mr. Dobrindt reached that part of the poem, they'd laugh together. But it wasn't until August 14 that Mr. Dobrindt asked Mrs. Scoffield to marry him. "I was determined not to wait till leap year," he jokes. They've decided it is possible to love twice. Says Mr. Dobrindt: "Perhaps I'm over -optimistic at my'age to be thinking of entering a new di- mension in life. But for how ever long or short it may be, I think it's worth it". E/ghty-elght year old Gerry Dobrindt married Erma Scofield, 81, at the Zion Lutheran Church on Saturday. Bishop to speak in Grand Bend GRAND BEND - The Right Rev- erend Victoria Matthews, Bishop of the Credit Valley Diocese of To- ronto, will speak at a dinner at Oak- wood Inn, Grand Bend, on Tues- day, November 21. Bishop Matthews, the first woman to be elected bishop in Canada, will Apples compared at 4-H meeting David Shapton EXETER -The Ex- eter II 4-H group got together again on Thursday, November 2 at the home of Norma Cockwill. Both Norma Cockwill and Linda Russell led the group that evening. They started off with the 4-H pledge and heard the secretary and press reports. The roll call was a a little differ- ent this week being, "give your birth month and the other members will give the fruit or vegetable which is the most popular during that month". A oral quiz was held on vegetables, then the group headed to the kitchen to make tea biscuits, maple sauce for baked ap- ples and apple sauce and compared the appearance, texture and flavor of two kinds of apples being Ida Red and Spartan. Apple rhubarb crisp with sauce and peach topping for tea biscuits were made. The meeting ended at 9 p.m. t -a11iatV the - tiva 235-1331 • i� speak about "The Church as the Community - Today and Tomor- row". Her visit is being sponsored by St. John's Anglican Church in Grand Bend. Bishop Matthews is a graduate of the University of Toronto and a graduate of Yale University Divini- ty School. She served as priest in parishes in Metropolitan Toronto and in the York-Simcoe area before her election as bishop in 1994. During the time since her election as Bishop, she has been in demand as a speaker on issues which affect both the Church and Canadian soci- ety. As she has said, "the daily newspaper and evening news present a society that is confused, with as many questions as answers about common values, family life and beliefs." She goes on to argue that "this present state of affairs simply cannot continue." Bishop Matthews believes that the Church will become more involved with the community. She believes the Church will speak out more exten- sively about human issues of mean- ingful employment, gender, family life, care of children, and issues of power. She emphasizes the need for the christian Church to respond to a so- ciety that is seeking direction and meaning. The Christian Community offers a model that is distinct from secular society; this distinctiveness comes from its ministry, born of contemplation and prayer, and it of- fers a "response to the pain and brokenness that is all around us," she says. Everyone is invited to attend the dinner and to hear Bishop Mat- thews. For information and tickets call the Rev. Fay Patterson, 235- 3023 in Exeter or call 238-2502, 238-6907, 238-8260 in Grand Bend. Jo ow The treatment of varicose veins and facial veins by painless and effective injections of saline and sugar solutions (sclerotherapy), has become a routine procedure in this clinic. There is no charge for the initial consultation. DR. MARIO CAUCHI Out philosophy it that each individual is important, and that Meg should 6e red the choice and means "Iv be the best they can be. E LORAMAR CENTRE FOR COSMETIC MEDICINE Bruce St., W., Goderich (519) 524-4430 1-800-896-4430 DR. MARIO M. CAUCHI LORRAINE CAUCHI R.N. Times -Advocate, November 8,1995 Page 7 Remembrance service is planned The service is set for this Sunday. Rhoda Rohde THAMES ROAD - Rev. Jim All- sop was in charge of the church ser- vice Sunday morning at Thames Road United Church. The responsive reading was taken from Psalm 119:1-8. The choir sang "He Touched Me" accompanied by organist Marilyn Vandenbussche. The children's hymn was "Give Me Oil in My Lamp" and Rev. All- sop told the children a story about Zacchaeus. The scripture lesson was taken from Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, and from II Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, read by Anne Kernick. Rev. Allsop read from Luke 19:1-10 and his sermon was enti- tled "It's Lonely at the Top". The closing hymn was "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing." Coming events The Official Board will meet No- vember 8 at 8 p.m. at Thames Road Church. On Sunday, November 12 there will be a Remembrance Day ser- vice at both Elimville and Thames Road churches. Mission Sunday will be celebrat- ed November 19. On Sunday, November 19, the ETZWEK Youth Group will meet at Elimville church at 7:30 p.m. On December 3 the group plans a hay ride and Christmas party at Gary and Maria Urquhart's home. The First Sunday of Advent and White Gift Sunday service will be held November 26. The Community of Area Church- es are planning an evening of mu- sic and worship at Thames Road Church November 26, beginning at Car fire in Hay Township HAY TOWNSHIP - The Grand Bend Fire Department responded to a car fire Saturday at Sideroad 29, east of Highway 21. 7:00 p.m. with an orchestra and sing -song. The service will begin at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome and a so- cial time will be held after. Practices for a combined choir will be held November 12 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Thames Road Church with orchestra practice af- ter the choir practice. Personals Don and Janis Richardson cele- brated their 25th wedding anniver- sary recently, with their children Erin, Brian and Lori. Their bridal party 25 years ago was Faye Oli- ver, Sheila Baxter, Linda Faulhaf- er, Bill McIntosh, Floyd Duncan, Danny Richardson and Doug Rich- ardson. Larry and Shirley Jackson of Springfield, Ohio visited with Ken, Dorothy and Floyd Duncan recent- ly. Jack and Ferne Stewart spent a few weeks with Brian and Cheryl Sullivan and family of Osgoode and attended the baptism of their grandson Patrick John, at St. Paul's United Church, Osgoode. IINN€18 fahirnarion I..\U11', 1;1)1 1101.1. 429 Main Street Exeter, Ontario NOM 157 (519) 235-4041 Start your Christmas Shopping Early... NO TN( It's on Anne Nov. 9, 10 11 Capsule Comments with Ernie Miatello Vitamin D is important in helping maintain calcium levels. Our bodies produce the vitamin in response to sunlight. Just 10 minutes in the sun creates ad- equate amounts. Seniors seem to have a reduced ability to manufacture the vitamin and may need longer sun exposure, about 30 minutes twice weekly. If you have a cold and are coughing at night, it might be due to a post- nasal drip. Sleeping on your stomach might alleviate this and relieve the cough. Eighty per cent of all deaths from flu occur in persons over 65. These deaths occur from pneumonia as a secondary complication of the flu. If you are over 65, get your flu shot. Remember, because of how the vac- cine is made, you can't get the flu from the shot. Side effects of flu vaccine include soreness at the injection site, fever and muscle aches. These reactions can begin in 6 hours and last up to 48 hours. But most people get no side effects at all. HURON APOTHECARY Ltd. Phone 235-1982 440 Main St., Exeter "Your Health Care Pharmacy" ✓.1../..1.1.1.1../1.,!.1.1.1✓..1.1.,!.lJ../.!.!..!.1.1.1.1.1.1.1..1.J..!.!.1.,/..�.1.f./.1✓..l.!.l.!../r/..1.l..!..r.1..!.1..!`� Two SURE WAYS TO ENJOY A GOURMET MEAL Dine in a fine restaurant or Cook it yourself with natural gas. ENJOY GOURMET COOKING 365 DAYS A YEAR. You can have the chefs advantage right in your own home with a modern natural gas range. Right now, we've got great deals that'll make it easy to move up to gourmet natural gas cooking. A TASTY TIME TO BUY! Here's what you get if you buy a natural gas "gourmet" range now: • Infinite flame settings for precise cooking control. • Instant on/off heat. • Electronic ignition for even greater economy. 'Separate smokeless broiler. • Easy monthly payments on your gas bill. • A wide choice of models to choose from. PUT IT ON YOUR GAS BILL AND MAKE NO PAYMENTS UNTIL MAY '961* couNrRnvrloO 4I OVER 176 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU! Campbell's 63 Main St. CiIMPDEL FT)pliances and furniture • on ipp vsd corat Offor bald bol mn Nov. 6 and Doc. 16, 1996. EXETER 235-1501 4