Long Term Lovers of Howard County
William Joe and Vivian Marie (Wheeler) Payne : 59+ Years
Married Spring of 1943
Vivian, daughter of Manford Lincoln (Ted) Wheeler and Josephine (Lee) Wheeler, and Bill, son of John Leonard Wilkinson Payne and Effie Marie (Johnson) Payne, first met at a mutual friends' home. They didn't get to know each other very well until a year later when they both were members of the Russiaville School Safety Patrol and were crossing guards during the noon break at school. They dated through high school.
Vivian and Bill married in the spring of 1943 and farmed until they purchased a Phillips Gasoline Station in Russiaville in the fall of 1947. They also purchased a house in Russiaville and lived there until the summer of 1966. In January 1948, Bill went to Shell Oil Company as a field representative and later as a dispatcher. In 1955 Bill took a position with Chrysler as a Security Guard. Meanwhile Vivian had worked at an appliance store as a clerk and then as a dental assistant for Dr. Glenn Bollinger in Russiaville until 1965. They built and moved into a new house in 1966 east of Kokomo on 100 South. Bill continued on at Chrysler and retired in 1980 as Fire Chief of the Kokomo Complex. Vivian took a position with Dr. Richard Rudicel as a dental assistant. She retired in 1986.
They had three children; Judith Marie, John William, and Deborah Lee Payne. They have four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Their secret to a long and successful marriage: Marriage is a fifty-fifty deal. Both husband and wife have to work at it. Respect for each other is vital.
William Joe Payne 1924 -
Vivian Marie (Wheeler) Payne 1927 -
