By Christine Baldwin, AFRH-W Librarian

AFRH-W is very fortunate to have Ray and Edna “Jo” Colvard as Residents. It wouldn’t have happened normally because Ray was born in North Carolina and Jo in Illinois. But Ray enlisted in the U.S. Navy, at the age of 17, to start his military career and ended up at the Naval Station, Great Lakes, IL.  After Jo worked 3 ½ years in a physician’s office, she decided to help in the War effort and joined the U.S. Army as a WAAC in Chicago, IL. They met at a restaurant over drinks, began talking, and then decided to go to the Art Institute the next day. They could only meet during weekends.  Then Ray got transferred to Norfolk, VA, and they could only communicate by mail.  When they decided to get married in 1946, and realized how difficult it would be to coordinate a North Carolina/Illinois wedding, they decided on the spur of the moment to elope in Waukegan, IL.  The rest they say is history and next month they will be celebrating their 70th anniversary!

Ray stayed in the Navy for twenty years, serving in U.S. ports and on Destroyers. Jo had left the Army during the war, after a stint filing paperwork in a military hospital. They later adopted a son and were able to stay together most of his career. On one of Ray’s tours of duty in Washington, DC, Jo worked with the U.S. Forest Service. Both became active in the Scottish Rite organization, while in California. Ray received both a BA (University of California, Santa Barbara) and a Master’s Degree (San Diego, CA) in Higher Education. He taught history aboard Navy ships in the PACE (Program for Afloat College Education) program. Ray retired as a Chief Petty Officer. He then taught in San Diego high schools and retired again after another twenty years.

Ray and Jo came to the home 23 years ago. They enjoy taking trips, going on elder hostel tours and even went to Europe through a program at the Pentagon. Both have been very active here at the AFRH-W. Jo participated in the Arts & Craft department and Ray wrote articles for the predecessor of “The Communicator” called “The Bugler” for many years. One of the most memorable stories that Ray captured was in September 2000.  It dealt with the Osage Orange tree that sits alongside the Lincoln Cottage. Ray’s article contrasted the reverence that is inspired by the monster tree in relation to the “awe inspiring” President Lincoln. Thank you, Ray and Jo for being such a vibrant part of AFRH-W!