WEATHERALLS CELEBRATE 60TH ANNIVERSARY
by Kristy Williams
Don, an education major from Oklahoma, and Ardyce, a nursing student from Colorado, met while working in the bakery at Union College, Lincoln, Nebr. They married on July 28, 1954.
Upon graduation from college in 1956, Platte Valley Academy in Shelton, Nebr., invited Don to teach Bible, history, and physical education. After eight years, he took a call to be principal of Enterprise Academy in Enterprise, Kans. Meanwhile, Ardyce started a successful flannel graph company for children’s Sabbath Schools across North America.
Don continued his career in education: principal at Highland Academy in Portland, Tenn.; principal at Kahili Adventist School in Kuloa, Hawaii; six years as superintendent of education at Florida Conference; and 23 years in the Southern Union Conference and North American Division education departments.
Throughout this time, Ardyce was the consummate mother, cook, and hostess for the many Sabbath lunches and guests who frequented their home. She also traveled with Don, typing thousands of manuscripts for manuals, curriculum guides, and textbooks written by teachers during summer workshops chaired by Don. Her favorite period of time was when she was the librarian at Forest Lake Education Center in Apopka, Fla.
In 2006, after 50 years of denominational service, the Weatheralls moved to Florida Living Retirement Community, Apopka, Fla. They are the parents of three daughters: Cynthia Buckingham, Kristy Williams, and Lori (Ted) Asbury. They have four grandchildren: Jaclyn and Justin Williams and Bailey and Rylee Asbury.