Family of long-time Corcoran residents James and Martha Whitworth gathered in Visalia Sunday, Jan. 20, to celebrate the couple’s 70th wedding anniversary.
Married in Rossville, Georgia, on Jan. 18, 1947, they first settled in Decherd, Tenn., before moving to Corcoran in 1952. Jim and Martha were introduced by Jim’s Air Force buddy while stationed at an army air force base in Memphis, Tenn. Jim’s best friend Sherman Meyers was dating Martha’s best friend Jaunita Preston. After a year or so of weekend visits back and forth between Memphis and Decherd, Tenn., and dozens of letters, the couple married shortly after Jim was discharged from the service in Dec. 1946. Jaunita and Sherman ended up marrying as well, though not at the same time.
The couple settled in Corcoran, with Jim working various jobs as a truck driver and service man for area farmer Bill Boswell Jr. and Dyer’s Trucking before making his career move to the Corcoran Unified School District, from which he retired in 1990 after 27 years as director of maintenance, operations, grounds and transportation. Martha worked in childcare and as a cook for the old Vella’s Bee Hive restaurant before she accepted her career-long position with the Waukena school district. Martha retired in 1991 after 25 years working for the Waukena Unified School District as cafeteria manager.
Celebrating with them were their three children, Brenda Moore and husband Ron of Visalia; Randy Whitworth of Visalia; and Ken Whitworth and wife Leah of Hanford; grandchildren Heather Chrisman and boyfriend Mark, Joshua Moore and partner Melissa, Samantha Whitworth and boyfriend Dalan Oliveira, Cameron Whitworth, Rochelle Dowling and Kelsi Whitworth; great grandson Brandan Loyd and wife Jenni, great grandson Karsten Moore; great-granddaughters Emma Dowling and Darbi Dowling; and great-great grandson Draven Loyd. Not able to attend were granddaughter Amanda Whitworth and great-grandchildren River Whitworth and Rosie Whitworth, all of Tullahoma, Tennessee; grandson Eric Whitworth and wife Kaylene, and great-grandson Zane Whitworth, all of Eagle Point, Oregon, great-grandson Hayden Whitworth and great-granddaughter Hayley Whitworth, both of Turlock, ; grandson Jeremy Chrisman of Visalia and great-grandson Cody Chrisman and partner Caitlyn of Visalia.
