Stillwater NewsPress

Local News

December 12, 2009

Couple shares adventures

Chelcey Adami

Velma, 78, and Harold “Tom” Sanders, 82, have tackled life’s adventures together for the last 59 years.

They have lived in five states and spent three years in England, but have been in Stillwater since 1972.

Tom was born in St. Joseph, Mo., and Velma in Onaga, Kan. They met while Velma was a senior in high school and Tom was working at Union Pacific Train Station.

One night at a basketball game, Velma decided to sit next to Tom, and they discovered they had a lot in common. Tom played the violin, Velma played the clarinet, and they were both in church choirs.

Tom subsequently asked Velma to go rabbit hunting with him. He brought his 22-gauge shotgun, and she carried a .22 rifle. When they saw a rabbit run into some brush, he told her to shoot into the brush to scare the rabbit, and then he’d get it coming out. She shot into the brush and nothing happened. Tom reached in and pulled out the rabbit to discover Velma shot it in the eye.

“We had rabbit for supper, and from there on we became pals,” Velma said.

Their relationship deepened while hunting and fishing with family members.

While they said they ideally wanted to date a few years before marrying, Tom was transferred to St. Joseph, Mo., but he frequently came back to visit Velma in Kansas.

“He was wearing his car out trying to date me. I said we better get married,” she said.

They married March 26, 1950, and will celebrate their 60th anniversary next March. They have five children, three boys and two girls. They also have 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren with one more on the way.

Tom joined the Navy and later, the Air Force. During his 20 years in the Air Force, he was often stationed overseas, and Velma cared for all five children by herself and was also an Avon district manager.

While they admit it was difficult being apart, it was often harder getting back together with Velma needing to relinquish some household control to Tom. She said it usually took about six months to adjust.

Today, they stay very active with Countryside Studio and Gallery on South Husband where they sell art by Velma and stones, lapidary and jewelry by Tom. They have been there for 25 years.

Since retiring, they have fully indulged in their passions.

“I wanted to paint all my life. It’s what I was meant to do,” Velma said.

“I always liked rocks, of course; I just didn’t know anything about them,” Tom said.

Art and rock projects overflow from every direction throughout their home. The love of their craft manifests itself on every wall, shelf and even their dining room table, which they said they haven’t seen the top of for years.

Velma said they love living in Stillwater.

“I’ve always loved nature and the beauty of the four seasons. That’s why we wanted to be here, where there are four seasons but they aren’t dramatic,” she said.

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