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Fair king and queen mark 68-year marriage

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Bill Lackey/Bill Lackey Robert and Jean Kramer have been married 68 years and are being honored as the "King and Queen" of Elderly United's Golden Wedding Celebration at the Clark County Fair.

By Jenna Staul, Staff Writer Updated 8:21 AM Tuesday, July 28, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — For Robert Kramer, it was love at first sight.

Kramer was 16 when the 1937 Ohio River flood drenched his hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio. He and a high school friend ventured into town to volunteer their efforts in the aftermath.

That’s when Jean caught his eye.

“I turned to my friend and said that’s the girl I’m going to marry,” Kramer said, glancing at Jean, now his wife of 68 years. “(My friend) kind of laughed at me. He knew I had never seen her before.”

In honor of their seven decades together, Kramer and Jean will serve as the king and queen of this year’s Golden Wedding Celebration at the Clark County Fair, sponored by Elderly United and the Kiwanis Club. The event honors couples who have been married for more than 50 years, and will be held today, July 28, at the Champion Center.

Kramer was smitten from the first time he saw his future wife. But Jean, who was expected to marry another local boy, was a bit more prudent.

“Yeah, it took a little more time for me,” she said.

It took about four years, to be exact.

The two put off marriage until 1941 as World War II brewed in Europe because “just any minute we thought we’d be at war,” Jean said. Months after their August wedding, Japanese aircraft struck Pearl Harbor.

Kramer enlisted the next day to fight in the Pacific Theater. The newlyweds had to live their fledgling marriage through mail correspondence.

The couple has two daughters, Kaye and Lynn, five great-grandchildren and one great-daughter. Both daughters will be on hand today for the couple’s day as king and queen at the Golden Wedding Celebration. Today the two keep busy with hobbies such as needlework and leather carving.

“It really shocked me,” Kramer said of he and his wife’s selection.

Kramer said the formula to their long lasting love is simple.

“Love,” Kramer said. “We haven’t had any problems staying together.”

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