From Gayle and Mike Knapp
Dear Joyce and Lou,
I remember so well your weddings- both of them and each a beautiful tribute to love and devotion! I feel honored that I had one year of high school with you both and a lifetime of friendship. When Mike came into my life, he learned quickly the caring and fun and amazing hospitality from the Middletown gang.
I think one of our most outstanding memories was when we gathered a group of 28 to celebrate our 25th anniversary by taking a Caribbean cruise in 1986, and Lou arrived on board almost straight from the operating room, looking very pale, thin and tired but after a week of partying, he left the ship tan and robust and smiling!
Just sorry the miles separate California and Ohio, but our visits back and forth continue and always will. Thrilled to have you here earlier this year thanks to the Buckeye football team.
Happy, happy 50th Anniversary dear friends... you are VERY special!
Much love,
Gayle and Mike

From Neila and Bruce Barnes:
Joyce and Lou, Welcome to the 50th Wedding Anniversary Club. What a wonderful trip it has been for all of us and how fortunate that we met our perfect partner many years ago.

I first remember the Christy family when they returned to Middletown and entered Anne and Lynne in my Sunday school class at First Presbyterian Church. The love and care you offered with these two girls was outstanding.

Next came Lou and his love of cross word puzzles. Sometimes he was a little tardy for church, but usually when he arrived the puzzle was complete.

Then came our friendship through the Ohio State- Butler County group, even though you Joyce are not an alum of the greatest university - you have joined
the ranks.

We treasure our times together at picnics, scholarship dinners and away football trips as well as other organizations that we share.

HAPPY 50th to both of you!!!!!

Love, Neila and Bruce

From Suzanne Harrison:
Joyce, you and I lived down the hall from one another in our junior year in college at Ohio Wesleyan University. One weekend you had a date for a dance on campus, but your high school beau (you guessed it, Lou) phoned and asked out. Since you preferred to go out with Lou, you asked me if I would be willing to fill in and go to the dance with your date, and I said I would. Because you have always given me credit for helping you out of this jam, I felt that perhaps this particular Saturday date may have been a turning point in your relationship.
Our friendship grew with the creation of "the Committee" a group of 12 O.W.U. gals whose sole purpose was to socialize and enjoy the company of one another. During our senior year, we would get together occasionally and visit. After we graduated, we kept in touch with a round-robin letter. At our 25th college reunion, we congregated together, and it was agreed that we would meet three years later for a visit of several days. Since that time, we have been meeting at first every three years, but in the more recent past every two years mostly in one another’s homes. Along with this friendship with Joyce, my husband, Bob, and I have gotten to know your delightful husband, Lou. One memorable visit in Middletown had you squiring us around the Cincinnati area. It is such fun being with you. We are so fond of the two of you and happy to congratulate you on fifty years of marriage.
Love, Suzanne

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Christy,

Growing up across the street from your loving family was such a blessing! I have so many wonderful memories. There are too many to count but I thought I’d list just a few:
1. Learning to waterski on Lake Cumberland behind the Christy’s boat.
2. All the family dinners and get togethers....so many great times!
3. "Breaker one nine ...this is the Shaggy Dog to the Sponge Diver. I believe we forgot our large Old English Sheepdog at the last rest area about an hour ago.”
4. Amy, Anne, and I each taking an arm or a leg and dragging Lynne around from room to room (even down the basement steps) when we moved our play set ups to a different room. We all loved every minute of it!
5. Camping trips (see my parents post)
6. Learning from Mr. Christy how to efficiently enter and exit the Christy home with minimal loss of AC. (being one of the few families with central air conditioning at the time)
7. Anne and Lynne staying at our house while the Christy’s went to Nassau!

See photos: I don’t know which is worse....my haircut or our kitchen wallpaper....on second look, I think it is the Clearasil all over my sister’s face. (sorry Amy)

I love you both so much and wish you the happiest 50th wedding anniversary!

Love, Lisa Robb McDonnell

From Chris and Nancy Nelson

Congratulations, Joyce and Lou! We are thrilled to be a part of your celebration! We have such pleasant memories of being with you two especially in various church activities. We remember being at you house for dinners and church meetings. You always made your guests feel welcome and at home. We remember various church events and programs also. Joyce, you were so good as a Stephen Minister! We trained together and -- yes -- we even tolerated the many role playing activities that were such a big part of our training. I am sure you were a blessing to your care receiver! We also have a fond memory of seeing Lou (and Chris was there too) help serve the food at a Stephen Ministry dinner.

We are excited for you that you have this opportunity to celebrate and we will be with you in spirit on your special day. You have had 50 years of learning, growing, giving, receiving, laughing, crying and everything in between. We hope you have many more healthy, happy years together.
Bless you!

Love, Nancy and Chris
The Villages, Florida

From Phyllis and Jack Abner:
This picture brings back a lot of wonderful memories from our vacations to Hilton Head Island. We had all of our children with us and they had a great time with each other. We have good memories of kids playing tennis, biking and having fun on the beach together. We adults, of course, had a great time too! One highlight we recall is the beautiful sunsets at Old Fort Pub.
Affectionately, Phyllis and Jack

From Linda Decatur:
Happy 50th dear friends,
What a gift you two are to me and my family. "Being there" is a great gift of friendship. You have been there for Al and me with listening and love. You have taught us how to love unconditionally, how to give of yourselves, how to cope with all life has given you and taken from you, and most important- how to live life each day to its fullest. It is an honor to have you both as friends... These photos are of 88 years of combined love and marriage in 2006.
Love, Linda

From Nancy and John Robb:
A treasured memory of the many Robb/Christy adventures is a camping trip to Kentucky when a major rain storm and serious flooding dominated the weekend.

When we arrived early afternoon at the campground, the weather was still sunny. Joyce and Lou were already there and had chosen a campsite part way up a hill. John grumbled about this because it was difficult to get our camper into place. Little did we know that this would save us!

We began the afternoon by piling everyone into Lou's boat for a nice ride on the lake. The rain started with just a few sprinkles and turned into a total torrential downpour. As soon as possible, Joyce, Anne, Lynne, Nancy, Amy, and Lisa were dropped at the Robb station wagon while the guys dealt with the boat. We were all completely soaked to the core. No one was happier than Lynne. She had an adventure going on, Barbie dolls in the back of the station wagon, and everyone right there to play.

Then came the Gimlets! As soon as it seemed safe, Joyce and Nancy drove the girls up to the campsite and got everyone settled in under our covered picnic table area. Since the guys were not back, Joyce and Nancy decided to weather the storm and get to the camp kitchen to make Gimlets (strong Gimlets!) for cocktail hour. With Joyce directing the proportions and Nancy pouring, we used our entire bottle of Vodka. The guys could not believe we did such a thing at first. Later they thought we were goddesses.

It ended up to be a great evening. We cooked on the grill, Lynne was thrilled to have all of us there together, and the rains never slowed. Joyce and Lynne slept in the station wagon but we all got very wet during the night.

By morning, we discovered that the lower part of the campground was completely flooded out and that many road were closed because they were under water. Getting out was another adventure but the weekend was an unforgetable time that we shared with precious friends.

Happy Anniversary, Joyce and Lou!

Love, John and Nancy Robb

From Ellie and George Brecht on a 40-year friendship:

Joyce and Lou- you are amazing community devotees and I love your service skills that made you leaders and providers to all those you serve. Joyce, you are so organized at completing projects as promised. Lou, I admire our immense intelligence, talents, service and commitment. You were and are always there for your friends traveling to be near for friends' important events - funerals, weddings, illness- cooking, running errands, bedside vigils. You were always there for those moments in the dark of night. And you were there for the joys of travel and parties -always hilarious and unexpected, sometimes embarrassing family moments. Birthdays at Hilton Head to panic on the river in storms or breakdowns. Vacations to "the farm" and the ocean. Seasonal holidays and trips to Europe. We shared the magic moments of raising kids- their winnings and losings, broken hearts and falling in love with the one. Physical challenges for our "dear ones" took all of our families ' involvement. Day in and day out we have lived supported by each other through everything.

What has endeared you two most to my heart is how you've fueled our friendship with your devotion even when we have pulled back in isolation of late. You beautiful people have stayed with us. We both love you and thank you. God bless you and keep you through these last stages we walk together. May our path be joyous and fun! Love always, dear friends, Ellie and George

From Amy Robb Bolazina:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Christy,
My wonderful memories of the two of you start about 43 years ago around the 7th year of your marriage when I was 5. I remember you coming to a party or meeting at our home on Belmont Street and you brought Anne and Lynne. I had such a fun time playing with them that night! Then shortly after we moved right across the street from you and the daily fun times began! Anne, Lynne, Lisa, and I were inseparable during the summers. We loved playing inside and outside… and all play was creative. You always were so nice to us and welcomed us to your home. And that was key on the hot summer afternoons, as your home was always the coldest in the neighborhood with central air-conditioning! Such a relief from the humidity and heat! Some of the many, many wonderful memories include:
• Potluck dinners with the neighborhood friends.
• Picnics at Armco Park with neighborhood friends.
• Camping with families.
• Many single day boating trips and learning to water-ski.
• Fun weekends at Lake Cumberland on a houseboat and skiing on your boat.
• Ellie’s family farm and farm living.
• Going to you church with you and you invited us to join in your church Bible Day Camp… so fun!
• Your enormous basement which was so fun to play in with the kitchen that Mr. Christy made for Anne and Lynne, the swing, the tumbling mats, etc.
• Running over to your house a little later on Christmas morning with excitement so Anne, Lynne, Lisa and I could share what great toys we got!
• The carnival to raise money for Lynne’s school, which took place at both your home and ours.
• Going to YaYa and Papou’s store and later when we were older, we rode our bikes there. There was always free candy, which was sooo exciting and they donated a couple of cases of candy to the Carnival for Lynne’s school.
• Anne and I going to the same college, joining the same sorority, and becoming roommates.

You are wonderful parents! I remember Lynne was always either smiling or laughing. I know from the inside your family was loving and caring. And you were so encouraging to Anne, which made her self-sufficient and successful. You fostered her “can-do”, positive attitude. I am so grateful that you were a big part of my childhood and part of so many happy memories.

Congratulations on 50 years of marriage! Wow that is something to celebrate.

Love,

Amy Robb Bolazina

From Wendall Holloway:
We had many good times at Ohio Wesleyan together. I want you to know that I am thinking about you as you celebrate your 50th. Congratulations and all the best to you - Wendall

From the Erlandsons:
During the 70's for a number of years we went with eleven couples annually on a houseboat trip in September to Lake Cumberland in Kentucky.

We were thrilled to see you at the First Presbyterian Church when we were in Middletown recently for our 50th high school reunion. You are wonderful people.
Best wishes...Muffy and Clark Erlandson

From the Karchners:
We may just hold the honor of being the longest continuous friendship of Joyce (Hackney) Christy and Louis Christy.
And an honor and a blessing it has been indeed.

Joyce and Judy (Beatty) Karchner were friends in Lincoln Grade School while Louis Christy and Al Karchner were in Jefferson Grade
School together.
The photos you will see attached are those of our graduation from Roosevelt Junior High School (which is sadly being torn down) and of a High School prom night.
We share a lifetime of wonderful, hilarious, meaningful, rich,
and fond memories which no one can ever take away from us.
So of course, Joyce and Lou, we celebrate with you this special milestone of a fifty year legacy which your marriage has created. And we thank you for letting us be a part of it all - - from the beginning. We love you. You are family to us.
Love, Judy and Al Karchner

I have known Lou since he was a baby and our families were always together as we were growing up. Back in the year when the Middletown Middies were in the state championships, Mike Revelos and I were in Cleveland for the state finals. We met Lou there and he was instrumental in getting us tickets for the finals, which Middletown won. On the ride back to Columbus, Lou kept talking about his girlfriend Joyce at Ohio Wesleyan who I hadn’t met, and kept saying how great it would be to see her. The closer we got to Delaware, the more he kept hinting it would be nice to see her. We finally got so tired of his hints that we finally said o.k., we will go see her for a few minutes! When I met Joyce and saw the way they kept looking at each other and holding hands, etc., I thought to myself she seems like a very nice girl and a keeper. It appeared to be very serious, and well, it was…so we’re now celebrating their 50th anniversary! May they celebrate many more in good health. My wife Carol sends her good wishes as well. Love, Jim Demetrion