Bonny Doon residents Marion and Dick Wahl celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009.
Dick, 75, was born in St. Paul, Minn., and still has 33 first cousins in that area. Marion, 72, was born in Lindi, in southeastern Africa. Her family moved to Germany at the start of World War II and to the United States after the war ended.
The couple was married in 1959 in Bakersfield after both attended Bakersfield High School and Bakersfield Junior College and graduated from San Jose State University.
Marion received her teaching credential in 1959, and Dick earned his aeronautics degree the following year.
Dick, a retired U.S. Marine Corps pilot, spent 11 years flying jet fighters, including two tours of duty in the Far East. After his duty in the military, he flew for Lockheed Martin as a test and corporate pilot.
The Wahls moved to Bonny Doon in 1968. Marion taught at Bonny Doon Elementary School for 25 years.
The Wahls have two children, Steve Wahl of Campbell and Christine Imonti of Las Vegas, and five grandchildren.
The couple attends Bonny Doon Presbyterian Church and is active in Bible study and choir.
