Ellis and Girlie Temples celebrate 77th anniversary

Ellis and Girlie Temples of Saluda County recently celebrated their 77th anniversary.

Ellis is 99 years old, and Girlie is 94. They were married Jan. 18, 1941.

A celebration lunch is planned in February by their children, Eva Lynn (Len) Hill, Leon Fuller Temples, Sammy (Robin) Temples, Jesse (Debra) Temples, and Joel (Linda)Temples. The Temples are the proud grandparents of 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Mr. Temples served in the U.S. Army in the 1st Calvary Division and the 56th Calvary Brigade Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas, during World War II.

After he was discharged from the Army, the couple resided in West Columbia, where they raised their family.

Mr. and Mrs. Temples were actively involved in the community, Northside Baptist Church and the family business, T&T Masonry. Later in his career, Mr. Temples worked as a masonry instructor and retired from the Department of Juvenile Justice. Upon retirement, the couple returned to the family century farm in Saluda, where you could find him on his garden tractor and her in the flower garden.

“Our family expresses gratitude to our parents for their love and support throughout our lives,” writes daughter Eva Lynn Hill. “We also say thank you to our parents for giving so unselfishly to us and others. They set an example for us by living their Christian faith. We have been blessed by their long life together, their love for one another and others in their lives.”

This story was originally published January 28, 2018 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Ellis and Girlie Temples celebrate 77th anniversary."