Thurman and Opal Smith of Hartselle observed their 70th wedding anniversary on June 19. | Clif Knight

Thurman and Opal Smith of Hartselle celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Tues., June 19, with a family get-together at their home on Barclift Street.

The Smiths married June 19, 1942, in Lawrence County and settled in Morgan County three years later after he was discharged from the U. S. Air Force. He entered active duty shortly after their marriage and served as a flight line crew chief stationed in Alaska. They have resided in Hartselle since 1964.

Mr. Smith is a retiree of Monsanto Company where he worked for 26 years as a maintenance mechanic. Mrs. Smith was employed at Hartselle Medical Center for over 20 years.

They are the parents of five daughters, Linda Clemons, Ann Smith, Alice Nace, Connie Pope and twins Connie Pope and Bonnie Johnson. They also have nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Smith shared a bit of family history while comparing marriages of 70 years ago to those of today and received a big laugh from family members:

“I had to milk the cow before I got married, on orders from my mother,” she recalled. “I did as I was told but didn’t finish the job. Instead, I turned the cow out to pasture with the hope that my mother wouldn’t find out and make me come back and finish the job.”