Latest news with #Delma
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- General
- The Advertiser
Meet Delma and Frank, they've been married for 80 years
80 YEARS is a milestone most marriages never reach, but the love between Delma Earsman and Francis 'Frank' Murray has always been special. Their bond has blossomed over eight decades. It's the kind of love that makes your heart flutter and fills you with warmth. This week the Newcastle couple, Australia's longest-living married couple, celebrated 80 years in wedlock. Frank said he first laid eyes on Del, as he affectionately calls her, when he was 17 at a friend's birthday party. Delma was 16. "We used to go dancing on a Saturday night and got to know each other. But I was also playing football and I got hurt and had to go to the hospital," he said. "The fellows I used to play with said to Del, 'Your boyfriend's in the hospital'. She didn't know I was the boyfriend at the time. But she came down and said hello." When Frank was 18, he was enlisted to go to war as part of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, and stationed in Papua New Guinea. "I had to get leave to come and see her, and then we decided we'd get married," he said. Frank went back to the army and then took absence without leave. He wanted to be with Delma. "I managed to come all the way back to Newcastle by horse and cart, trucks and whatever to get home to Del," he said. But then he was called to go back. "After I finished my time, we started our married life," he said. The lovebirds were wed on June 16, 1945, at St Mark's Church of England, Islington. They became Mr and Mrs Murray. Delma wore an embroidered train. Her veil was arranged with hyacinths and camellias, while she carried a bouquet of roses. The couple's reception was held at the All Saints Hall in Tighes Hill, and Delma said she felt lucky to have a wedding during wartime. "I don't think we had a hot meal. I think we had sandwiches. I don't even remember having a cake. But I was lucky to get the wedding, the wedding dress, the veil and the church," she said. "I was just happy to have a little something." As time went on, Frank and Delma travelled and enjoyed life together. "We had a good time, a good life. We used to go on holidays. We went to England, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and a few other places," Frank said. "But mostly it was just an ordinary married life." They welcomed two daughters, Sandra and Joy, for whom Delma stayed home to care while enjoying cooking, sewing and arts and crafts. Frank worked as a motor mechanic while repairing lawnmowers on the side. The pair would also go to church every Sunday. And as a typical Aussie bloke, Frank said he liked to head to the pub, with Delma's permission, of course. "I used to like the race horses, and I used to go down to the TAB, and she'd let me go have a couple of bevs," he said. Delma is now 101, and Frank is 102 years old. They have five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and have been living in a nursing home for the past 18 months. "We don't do much. We just sit down and talk about old times and all that sort of business," Frank said, "But yeah, it's good. I couldn't do without Del," he said. When asked what the secret to a long marriage is, Delma said you've got to have tolerance. "You know it's half and half, you can't have it your own way. I think anyhow. It's been like that with us all the while. You need patience," she said. "You're going to choose to be with them. You're very lucky if you get the right one." Frank said, looking back, time had flown. "I'm telling ya, time goes that quick, you don't realise. So if you're gonna do anything, do it. Don't say I'll do it next year, that's not right. Just do it," he said. "Even now I can't realise that I'm over 100, and here we are." The couple celebrated their anniversary with their nursing home community, a delicious cake, and lunch with family. 80 YEARS is a milestone most marriages never reach, but the love between Delma Earsman and Francis 'Frank' Murray has always been special. Their bond has blossomed over eight decades. It's the kind of love that makes your heart flutter and fills you with warmth. This week the Newcastle couple, Australia's longest-living married couple, celebrated 80 years in wedlock. Frank said he first laid eyes on Del, as he affectionately calls her, when he was 17 at a friend's birthday party. Delma was 16. "We used to go dancing on a Saturday night and got to know each other. But I was also playing football and I got hurt and had to go to the hospital," he said. "The fellows I used to play with said to Del, 'Your boyfriend's in the hospital'. She didn't know I was the boyfriend at the time. But she came down and said hello." When Frank was 18, he was enlisted to go to war as part of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, and stationed in Papua New Guinea. "I had to get leave to come and see her, and then we decided we'd get married," he said. Frank went back to the army and then took absence without leave. He wanted to be with Delma. "I managed to come all the way back to Newcastle by horse and cart, trucks and whatever to get home to Del," he said. But then he was called to go back. "After I finished my time, we started our married life," he said. The lovebirds were wed on June 16, 1945, at St Mark's Church of England, Islington. They became Mr and Mrs Murray. Delma wore an embroidered train. Her veil was arranged with hyacinths and camellias, while she carried a bouquet of roses. The couple's reception was held at the All Saints Hall in Tighes Hill, and Delma said she felt lucky to have a wedding during wartime. "I don't think we had a hot meal. I think we had sandwiches. I don't even remember having a cake. But I was lucky to get the wedding, the wedding dress, the veil and the church," she said. "I was just happy to have a little something." As time went on, Frank and Delma travelled and enjoyed life together. "We had a good time, a good life. We used to go on holidays. We went to England, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and a few other places," Frank said. "But mostly it was just an ordinary married life." They welcomed two daughters, Sandra and Joy, for whom Delma stayed home to care while enjoying cooking, sewing and arts and crafts. Frank worked as a motor mechanic while repairing lawnmowers on the side. The pair would also go to church every Sunday. And as a typical Aussie bloke, Frank said he liked to head to the pub, with Delma's permission, of course. "I used to like the race horses, and I used to go down to the TAB, and she'd let me go have a couple of bevs," he said. Delma is now 101, and Frank is 102 years old. They have five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and have been living in a nursing home for the past 18 months. "We don't do much. We just sit down and talk about old times and all that sort of business," Frank said, "But yeah, it's good. I couldn't do without Del," he said. When asked what the secret to a long marriage is, Delma said you've got to have tolerance. "You know it's half and half, you can't have it your own way. I think anyhow. It's been like that with us all the while. You need patience," she said. "You're going to choose to be with them. You're very lucky if you get the right one." Frank said, looking back, time had flown. "I'm telling ya, time goes that quick, you don't realise. So if you're gonna do anything, do it. Don't say I'll do it next year, that's not right. Just do it," he said. "Even now I can't realise that I'm over 100, and here we are." The couple celebrated their anniversary with their nursing home community, a delicious cake, and lunch with family. 80 YEARS is a milestone most marriages never reach, but the love between Delma Earsman and Francis 'Frank' Murray has always been special. Their bond has blossomed over eight decades. It's the kind of love that makes your heart flutter and fills you with warmth. This week the Newcastle couple, Australia's longest-living married couple, celebrated 80 years in wedlock. Frank said he first laid eyes on Del, as he affectionately calls her, when he was 17 at a friend's birthday party. Delma was 16. "We used to go dancing on a Saturday night and got to know each other. But I was also playing football and I got hurt and had to go to the hospital," he said. "The fellows I used to play with said to Del, 'Your boyfriend's in the hospital'. She didn't know I was the boyfriend at the time. But she came down and said hello." When Frank was 18, he was enlisted to go to war as part of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, and stationed in Papua New Guinea. "I had to get leave to come and see her, and then we decided we'd get married," he said. Frank went back to the army and then took absence without leave. He wanted to be with Delma. "I managed to come all the way back to Newcastle by horse and cart, trucks and whatever to get home to Del," he said. But then he was called to go back. "After I finished my time, we started our married life," he said. The lovebirds were wed on June 16, 1945, at St Mark's Church of England, Islington. They became Mr and Mrs Murray. Delma wore an embroidered train. Her veil was arranged with hyacinths and camellias, while she carried a bouquet of roses. The couple's reception was held at the All Saints Hall in Tighes Hill, and Delma said she felt lucky to have a wedding during wartime. "I don't think we had a hot meal. I think we had sandwiches. I don't even remember having a cake. But I was lucky to get the wedding, the wedding dress, the veil and the church," she said. "I was just happy to have a little something." As time went on, Frank and Delma travelled and enjoyed life together. "We had a good time, a good life. We used to go on holidays. We went to England, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and a few other places," Frank said. "But mostly it was just an ordinary married life." They welcomed two daughters, Sandra and Joy, for whom Delma stayed home to care while enjoying cooking, sewing and arts and crafts. Frank worked as a motor mechanic while repairing lawnmowers on the side. The pair would also go to church every Sunday. And as a typical Aussie bloke, Frank said he liked to head to the pub, with Delma's permission, of course. "I used to like the race horses, and I used to go down to the TAB, and she'd let me go have a couple of bevs," he said. Delma is now 101, and Frank is 102 years old. They have five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and have been living in a nursing home for the past 18 months. "We don't do much. We just sit down and talk about old times and all that sort of business," Frank said, "But yeah, it's good. I couldn't do without Del," he said. When asked what the secret to a long marriage is, Delma said you've got to have tolerance. "You know it's half and half, you can't have it your own way. I think anyhow. It's been like that with us all the while. You need patience," she said. "You're going to choose to be with them. You're very lucky if you get the right one." Frank said, looking back, time had flown. "I'm telling ya, time goes that quick, you don't realise. So if you're gonna do anything, do it. Don't say I'll do it next year, that's not right. Just do it," he said. "Even now I can't realise that I'm over 100, and here we are." The couple celebrated their anniversary with their nursing home community, a delicious cake, and lunch with family. 80 YEARS is a milestone most marriages never reach, but the love between Delma Earsman and Francis 'Frank' Murray has always been special. Their bond has blossomed over eight decades. It's the kind of love that makes your heart flutter and fills you with warmth. This week the Newcastle couple, Australia's longest-living married couple, celebrated 80 years in wedlock. Frank said he first laid eyes on Del, as he affectionately calls her, when he was 17 at a friend's birthday party. Delma was 16. "We used to go dancing on a Saturday night and got to know each other. But I was also playing football and I got hurt and had to go to the hospital," he said. "The fellows I used to play with said to Del, 'Your boyfriend's in the hospital'. She didn't know I was the boyfriend at the time. But she came down and said hello." When Frank was 18, he was enlisted to go to war as part of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, and stationed in Papua New Guinea. "I had to get leave to come and see her, and then we decided we'd get married," he said. Frank went back to the army and then took absence without leave. He wanted to be with Delma. "I managed to come all the way back to Newcastle by horse and cart, trucks and whatever to get home to Del," he said. But then he was called to go back. "After I finished my time, we started our married life," he said. The lovebirds were wed on June 16, 1945, at St Mark's Church of England, Islington. They became Mr and Mrs Murray. Delma wore an embroidered train. Her veil was arranged with hyacinths and camellias, while she carried a bouquet of roses. The couple's reception was held at the All Saints Hall in Tighes Hill, and Delma said she felt lucky to have a wedding during wartime. "I don't think we had a hot meal. I think we had sandwiches. I don't even remember having a cake. But I was lucky to get the wedding, the wedding dress, the veil and the church," she said. "I was just happy to have a little something." As time went on, Frank and Delma travelled and enjoyed life together. "We had a good time, a good life. We used to go on holidays. We went to England, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and a few other places," Frank said. "But mostly it was just an ordinary married life." They welcomed two daughters, Sandra and Joy, for whom Delma stayed home to care while enjoying cooking, sewing and arts and crafts. Frank worked as a motor mechanic while repairing lawnmowers on the side. The pair would also go to church every Sunday. And as a typical Aussie bloke, Frank said he liked to head to the pub, with Delma's permission, of course. "I used to like the race horses, and I used to go down to the TAB, and she'd let me go have a couple of bevs," he said. Delma is now 101, and Frank is 102 years old. They have five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and have been living in a nursing home for the past 18 months. "We don't do much. We just sit down and talk about old times and all that sort of business," Frank said, "But yeah, it's good. I couldn't do without Del," he said. When asked what the secret to a long marriage is, Delma said you've got to have tolerance. "You know it's half and half, you can't have it your own way. I think anyhow. It's been like that with us all the while. You need patience," she said. "You're going to choose to be with them. You're very lucky if you get the right one." Frank said, looking back, time had flown. "I'm telling ya, time goes that quick, you don't realise. So if you're gonna do anything, do it. Don't say I'll do it next year, that's not right. Just do it," he said. "Even now I can't realise that I'm over 100, and here we are." The couple celebrated their anniversary with their nursing home community, a delicious cake, and lunch with family.
American Press
14-06-2025
- General
- American Press
Dolores Dell McClelland Duplechin
On June 12, 2025, our beloved mother, Dolores Dell McClelland Duplechin, 92, was called home to be with the Lord. Dolores lived a life rooted in faith and devoted to Christ. She was a woman of unwavering belief who began each day with her Bible and journal, praying for all 66 of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren by name. Dolores was born to Delma and Eula Vidrine McClelland on Sept. 13, 1932. She often shared her cherished memories of growing up on the farm in rural Basile, where she was affectionately known as 'Smack' by her family and friends. She graduated from Basile High School where she met her high school sweetheart, Ernie Duplechin. They both attended Louisiana College and were married in 1952. After graduation, they returned to Basile where she began her teaching career, and during that time, they welcomed five children into their family. In 1967, Dolores began teaching at LaGrange High School when Ernie was hired to coach football at McNeese State University, and she remained there until her retirement in 1985. She and Ernie began traveling in their RV with some of their dearest friends, seeing 49 U.S. states and Canada. She also loved entertaining in her home, often hosting women's group Bible Study, organizing meetings for the Christian Women's Group, and socializing with the former McNeese coaches' wives. Dolores' deep and evident love for Jesus drew people near, and all those she met fell in love with her. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Jackie (Dickie) Holmes, Steve (Debbie) Duplechin, Donna (David) Daughenbaugh, Sheila (Kurt) Rothermel, and Scott (Nicole) Duplechin; her grandchildren, Jeremy (Stacy) Duplechin, Kyle (Tiffany) Holmes, Allyson (Joshua) Schexnyder, Laura Holmes, Meagan (Andre') Villejoin, Blair (Jon) Ringo, Kelly (Jason) Thompson, Jordan (Taylor) Daughenbaugh, Kate (Damian) Hubbard, Lauren (Bradley) Reiners, Courtney Duplechin, Cade (Jen) Daughenbaugh, John (Caroline) Rothermel, Alex (Ryan) Smith, and Elizabeth Rothermel; her 39+ plus great-grandchildren; her brother, Jack McClelland, and sister, Judy (Johnny) Porter. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ernie Duplechin; parents, Delma and Eula Vidrine McClelland, and brother, Donnie. Funeral services will be Monday, June 16, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Baptist Church Main Venue led by Dr. David Rose and Greg Bath. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until the time of service. Interment service will follow at Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Serving as pallbearers are Steve Duplechin, Scott Duplechin, Jeremy Duplechin, Kyle Holmes, Jordan Daughenbaugh, Cade Daughenbaugh, and John Rothermel. Her children would like to thank all of her doctors, especially Dr. Keith Lechtenberg, and all those who gave their best in caring for their mother. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Samaritan's Purse or Louisiana Baptist Children's Home.
Otago Daily Times
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Award-winning Ford Falcon still turning heads
Delma Rutherfurd's 1978 Ford Falcon XC won a best in show category at Wheels at Wanaka. PHOTO: TONI WILLIAMS A Canterbury man's Ford Falcon is still turning heads after more than 40 years on the road. Delma Rutherfurd's 1978 XC is deep red with an original white vinyl roof top - and has clocked up more than 217,000km. The 3.3 litre engine turns over every time and runs like a dream. It can spend months in the shed and still turn over, Delma, of Ashburton, said. Most recently he used it to tow a caravan to Wheels at Wanaka over Easter weekend. It was Delma's first time attending the event after being encouraged to go by his mate, Greg. Delma put the XC on show and to his surprise it generated plenty of interest. People were inspecting it and taking photos, Delma said. It went on to win the trophy for Best in Show 2025 – Australian Car category. Delma Rutherfurd with his trophy for Best in Show 2025 – Australian Car. PHOTO: TONI WILLIAMS Delma was understandably chuffed; he thought it was just another car – albeit one with sentimental value to him. ''(That trophy) is worth its weight in gold. That's huge,'' he said, of the specially designed piston and spark plug trophy. Delma said the XC was purchased through a trade-in by himself and his late wife Lyn, from Henshaw Motors, in Timaru. They were the second owners. They gave up a 1981 M5 Cortina station wagon to get something bigger for the family. The XC has been full of camping gear and has towed caravans, wood-laden trailers and catered to a family of six since it was bought in August 1984. PHOTO: TONI WILLIAMS Its rear bench seat would accommodate three children and one secured with a lap belt in the front between the driver and passenger, he said. It travelled to the North Island four times and did frequent trips to Nelson, Christchurch and Rangitata. Except for a few small jobs, the XC has not had anything major done despite being used as a family car and workhorse for many years. ''It's never broken down on any travels,'' Delma said. ''I've been very lucky; it just keeps going.''
Otago Daily Times
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Award-winning Ford Falcon still truning heads
Delma Rutherfurd's 1978 Ford Falcon XC won a best in show category at Wheels at Wanaka. PHOTO: TONI WILLIAMS A Canterbury man's Ford Falcon is still turning heads after more than 40 years on the road. Delma Rutherfurd's 1978 XC is deep red with an original white vinyl roof top - and has clocked up more than 217,000km. The 3.3 litre engine turns over every time and runs like a dream. It can spend months in the shed and still turn over, Delma, of Ashburton, said. Most recently he used it to tow a caravan to Wheels at Wanaka over Easter weekend. It was Delma's first time attending the event after being encouraged to go by his mate, Greg. Delma put the XC on show and to his surprise it generated plenty of interest. People were inspecting it and taking photos, Delma said. It went on to win the trophy for Best in Show 2025 – Australian Car category. Delma Rutherfurd with his trophy for Best in Show 2025 – Australian Car. PHOTO: TONI WILLIAMS Delma was understandably chuffed; he thought it was just another car – albeit one with sentimental value to him. ''(That trophy) is worth its weight in gold. That's huge,'' he said, of the specially designed piston and spark plug trophy. Delma said the XC was purchased through a trade-in by himself and his late wife Lyn, from Henshaw Motors, in Timaru. They were the second owners. They gave up a 1981 M5 Cortina station wagon to get something bigger for the family. The XC has been full of camping gear and has towed caravans, wood-laden trailers and catered to a family of six since it was bought in August 1984. PHOTO: TONI WILLIAMS Its rear bench seat would accommodate three children and one secured with a lap belt in the front between the driver and passenger, he said. It travelled to the North Island four times and did frequent trips to Nelson, Christchurch and Rangitata. Except for a few small jobs, the XC has not had anything major done despite being used as a family car and workhorse for many years. ''It's never broken down on any travels,'' Delma said. ''I've been very lucky; it just keeps going.''
