Together, Not Alone!

Marriages Across the Years

by Deb Silverthorn

“To have and to hold until death do us part.” These words resonate deeply with those who celebrate a commitment that, while sometimes challenging, is always filled with blessings.

For Jan and Malva Axel, who celebrated their 72nd anniversary on December 2, life has been a journey across the globe. They first met at a party in Iasi, Moldova, shortly after WWII ended. Romania was then under Soviet occupation, and Malva endured great loss—her father was a victim of the Holocaust, while she survived an earthquake that would have claimed her life. Jan was spared by a German soldier who recognized his skill as a jeweler. After years of adversity, the couple dedicated their lives to remembering their families. “We aren’t them, but we carry on their traditions,” said Malva.

In 1948, they emigrated from Romania to Bulgaria on foot, boarding a boat meant for 20 but carrying 200. Malva was pregnant, and they lived on bread during the journey before reaching an Israeli kibbutz. “There was a toothbrush,” Jan recalled with a smile. “We were safe in a good life.”

Jan transitioned from harvesting oranges to working as a jeweler, rebuilding his career over 17 years. He later moved to New York, followed by Malva and their son, with her initially working for the city before joining Jan in Axel Design. They moved to Dallas after their grandson was born.

Malva and Jan take great joy in their three great-grandchildren, together stating, “We see these babies and know that in good times and bad, together was all we had.”

“This lady, she’s not just my wife, she’s my life,” Jan declares. “As I live, I want her next to me.”

Axels’ Advice

– You are equals in marriage—each of you is half of the whole.
– Never peek into the other’s wallet. You shouldn’t find out how much was spent on a gift.

We thank Major General Eugene Fox, US Army retired, for his service, while he too expresses gratitude for his 61-year marriage to Evelyn this February 2. They met when Evelyn walked into a party at Fort Bliss, where Gene was stationed. Their engagement and marriage took place within five months.

Gene’s career, built on duty and honor, was beautifully complemented by Evelyn’s passion for travel—a crucial trait for a military spouse.

They lived at various bases in the U.S. and Gene’s tour in Vietnam, with Evelyn caring for their parents and four children. During separations, they wrote letters, with phone calls being a luxury. After 33 years, Gene retired as Deputy Commander of the Strategic Defense Initiative.

“I knew he’d be special,” Evelyn said, a George Mason University graduate who set a remarkable example for their 11 grandchildren. Concerned about their family’s community, they actively built it—Evelyn teaching religious school and engaging with Army Community Services. “Each move was an unforgettable adventure, and I wouldn’t change a moment.”

“Our children learned self-reliance, and as many military kids say, the best part of this life is the friends you make—the worst, the friends you leave behind,” Gene reflected. “For this generation, reconnecting with the past is much easier.”

Foxes’ Formula

– You won’t always see eye to eye. It’s not necessary.
– Families go through different ages and stages. Compromise, but always present a united front.

G.A. and Sara Salmon, who started dating in ninth grade, discovered each other at church and on the school bus to Carrollton High School. Their first date involved singing Christmas carols on a Blanton Grain truck, leading to their marriage 72 years ago on November 9.

“She was my football sweetheart and is the smartest woman I’ve ever known,” G.A. shared. “You can’t just focus on yourself; a family supports each other, and it’s always been ‘we,’ not ‘me.’”

G.A. enlisted in the U.S. Air Force a week before graduation and went to Tacoma. Sara followed closely behind, but they faced separation when G.A. was set to deploy to Korea until President Truman halted troops just prior.

Sara worked for the founders of Tom Thumb grocers while G.A. dedicated over 30 years to Eastman Kodak, and together they navigated parenthood while their church and faith remained central.

“I dreamed of being a mommy since I was little. When I met G.A., I may have been young, but I had the right man,” Sara said, realizing that dream with two children, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. “It’s hard to separate us. It has been that way for most of our lives.”

Salmons’ Splendor

– You must put in the effort to make marriage work; don’t let it turn into work.
– You are marrying into a family, not just a person, and you will form one family together.

“On the road again” could be the theme for Jean and Bob Weinfeld, who will celebrate 62 years of marriage on March 25. Bob, a lingerie salesman passing through Little Rock, AK, was introduced to Jean but initially missed his chance to ask her on a date. Fortunately, Jean gave him another opportunity when he called on a Monday for a date the following weekend.

“We cultivated independent lives while remaining connected,” Jean reflected, considering the times Bob spent away on work or during long days in insurance, always making the most of weekends when he returned. “Family came first, even with 16-hour workdays. He never missed events and took the girls to the symphony and sports. He was present.”

Jean, who taught Sunday school and worked in retail when their daughters were young, re-entered the retail world for over 30 years. The couple continues to lead vibrant lives, participating in classes, programs, and community leadership while supporting each other’s busy schedules, a pillar of their relationship.

As proud grandparents of five, the Weinfelds delight in traveling across the U.S., Europe, Israel, and islands by various means—flights, trains, cars, and even donkeys and boats!

“I had many crushes before Jean, but I didn’t love them,” Bob shared confidently. “I didn’t love anyone until I met Jean, and that love has lasted a lifetime.”