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South Side couple celebrates 50th milestone — rain or shine

Harold and Diane Guiser of South Williamsport celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 23.

The couple was set to marry in mid-June 1972 at Immanuel United Church of Christ until Hurricane Agnes curtailed their wedding plans with massive flooding, road closures and a statewide curfew.

Diane Schmaus, a 1964 graduate of Loyalsock, and Harold Guiser (’58 Sugar Valley) instead found dry ground at their pastor’s parsonage. A brief intimate ceremony was held on the evening of Friday, June 23, 1972 with the Rev. J. Odell Zechman officiating. His wife, Anne, stood in place of the stranded maid-of-honor. The bride’s parents, Lamar and Peggy Schmaus, and her brother, Larry, were able to attend between sump pump duty.

Their white leather wedding Bible was nearly swept away in rushing water and the cake went uneaten, but it turns out that rain on their wedding day was good luck for the couple 50 years and counting!

Diane and Harold’s younger days were filled with crafts, canning, camping and children. They recently downsized to an apartment in South Side just a short drive from their longtime family home. In retirement, “Ma & Pa” enjoy visits from their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.

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