Couple Celebrates 75 Years Of Marriage

When Dick Ruoss and Dorothy Spence were married by Calvin Bachman at Zeltenreich Reformed Church, New Holland, on June 29, 1947, they had a new home built by Dick and by Dorothy's father, William Spence, and a 1931 Ford Cabriolet with a rumble seat. The pair first became an item between their junior and senior years at Upper Leacock High School in 1943. In October of that year, however, Dick was drafted, and he joined the Navy, serving stateside as an aviation crew member. He was stationed in New York, Chicago, and Oklahoma. While Dick was in the Navy, Dorothy worked at RCA and wrote him lots of letters. In July of 1946, after Dick had returned from the service, the pair became engaged and construction on their house began on a piece of Spence property along Musser School Road in Leola.

It was at that same home, a house that has been remodeled and expanded over the years, that the couple celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary with family and friends on June 29. Now in their 90s, Dick and Dorothy are proud of their three children - Rick Ruoss, Jim Ruoss, and Kathy Martin - and their 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Seated comfortably on the deck of the home they have shared for so long, the pair enjoyed reminiscing about their lives together. Dick's recall of details is nothing short of amazing, and Dorothy remembers specifics about their wedding, such as the dress she wore. The dress was made by Dick's mother, Lillian, of embroidered and plain silk that Dorothy's brother-in-law brought back from his service in Japan. Dick recalled that the Ladies Aid Society of the church furnished the reception meal.

After returning to Lancaster, Dick worked for the airline industry for 14 years before switching to Miller Chemical, where he was employed for nearly 30 years, retiring on Feb. 1, 1991. Dorothy worked for two years for the Leola Post Office, switching to the New Holland facility in 1968 and retiring in 1986. She was the only woman at the New Holland branch, and she noted that all the men she worked with were gentlemen.

Over the years, Dick and Dorothy enjoyed dancing. "We love to dance," said Dorothy, who shared that the couple's favorites included ballroom, country line, and square dancing. For nearly 30 years, they traveled to Florida during the winter months, indulging their love of dancing several nights a week on the trips.

When Dorothy went to high school, in the building that is now the Leola Elementary School on School Drive, from her home on Snake Hill Road, she did not walk uphill both ways; instead, she took the trolley, which she calls the "street car," back and forth. As a teenager, Dick did not wait to turn 16 to purchase his first car. He bought a 1929 Model A Ford at the age of 15 for $20 with money he earned working at the American Golf Course, located along Route 23 in New Holland. The mini golf course used sand rather than carpet on the holes, and teenagers were employed to use trowels to smooth it out between golfers. "I was paid $1.25 a night," recalled Dick.

After more than 75 years together, the couple continues to be devoted to each other. Dorothy has been diagnosed with macular degeneration, but she called Dick "my rock," saying, "He does everything for me."