Celebrating 70 years…and still counting

For most of their 70 years of marriage, Gerald C. (Jerry) Caward Sr. and his wife, Arlene Caward, have lived in Lansing. They still do, but for the past three years, they have attended the New Testament Church of Peruville here in Groton, and they say they have “truly found a home there.”

It is for that reason that these Lansing folks are being featured this week in this column. They have made many friends in Groton through their church home and have become a part of the fabric of Groton as a result. They attend April through October because they have become snowbirds in Palmetto, Florida during the other months for the past 23 years. 

When Jerry and Arlene were married on June 26, 1953, Jerry was 18 and Arlene was 15. They were deeply in love – yet they heard a number of naysayers opining that they were “too young” or “they won’t last” – but clearly they overcame all that. 

Jerry grew up in Reynoldsville, New York with his parents, George and Esther, and his three sisters. He attended a one-room schoolhouse there and graduated from Watkins Glen High School in 1951.  

After high school, Jerry enrolled in Cornell University’s School of Agriculture with the hope of becoming a farmer. He actually lived in the brooder house and tended to the chickens on Cornell’s poultry farm. He was one of two students who did so, and he earned 85 cents an hour for doing it on Saturdays. After three semesters, Jerry took a leave of absence, but he never did return.  

John and Leora Clayton were Arlene’s parents, who raised her, her three sisters, and a brother in Newfield. Arlene attended school there through 10th grade in 1952, at which point she opted to discontinue.  

“I did earn my GED as an adult through TST BOCES,” Arlene said. “I was 49 years old. I always wanted to have graduated from high school, but I had no opportunity to do it until then.” 

That opportunity eluded Arlene throughout her married life because it was filled with so many other things. 

Jerry and Arlene first met at a weekly Saturday square dance at the Newfield Fire Hall in February 1952. Jerry’s classmate, Johnny Milks, had invited him to go to the dance, which was quite popular with the young crowd.  

“It started out that I arranged for my friend, Bill Yaw, to dance with Arlene,” Jerry said, “and I danced with her friend, Joyce Horton. But because we four made up the square, Arlene and I ended up together in the end.” 

“After that, we danced every dance together,” Arlene chimed in, “and we’ve been dancing together ever since!” 

It was love at first sight for the two, and Jerry spent that summer and fall visiting Arlene in Newfield two or three times a week, admitting that he hitchhiked his way there from Cornell because he didn’t own a car yet. 

On Christmas Eve 1952, Jerry and Arlene got engaged and were married the following June. The legal age for marriage back then was 21, so both sets of parents were required to sign a court order to allow the marriage, which they did. 

Meanwhile, when Jerry had left Cornell, he got a job working as a dairy herdsman on Sky Patterson’s dairy farm in Burdett. During their engagement, he and Arlene went to auctions to buy furniture for the farmhouse that Jerry was allotted as part of his wages.  

“I got the house, $45 a week pay, and two quarts of milk every day,” Jerry said. “Arlene wouldn’t drink it, so I did.” 

In December 1953, the Cawards welcomed Gerald C. (Jerry Jr.) Caward Jr. to their family, and not long thereafter, another of Jerry’s high school friends, Dick Welch, made an impact on their lives when Jerry was hired by Dick’s brother, Paul, who owned the Lansing Service Station.  

At that point, the Caward family of three moved to Lansing. They initially lived with Arlene’s aunt, Jessie Bickal, who had had a stroke, so Arlene took care of her and Jerry Jr. until she found herself expecting a daughter, Sherry, who was born in March 1955.  

“I couldn’t keep up with everything,” Arlene said, “so we moved to a house in Ludlowville. After Sherry, our son, Bruce, was born in October 1956, and then Bonnie in November 1958.” 

In 1956, Jerry got a job at International Salt Company in Myers, where he worked until its closure in November 1962. In the meantime, he had started a business with his friend, Dick Welch, called Dick and Jerry’s Antenna Service, where Jerry worked part-time while working at the salt company. 

Jerry had also taken an international correspondence course on basic electricity, so when his days at the salt company were over, he and Dick launched Dick and Jerry Radio and Electric, building their business through the years until it closed in 1984. Jerry then worked for Gallagher & Shean until he retired in 1996. 

Once their four children were all in school, Arlene drove school buses for Lansing Central Schools from 1963 to 1993. After she retired, she and Jerry worked together for Bennett Motor Express, delivering new large trucks and buses all over the country. 

“I learned a lot about our country, drivers and the way traffic ran,” Arlene said. “We met a lot of wonderful people.” 

The Cawards credit their faith, as well as their love, for the longevity of their marriage. They attended Lansing Methodist Church for 16 years, Asbury Church for 36, North Lansing Baptist for another four. Now they attend their true church home, the New Testament Church of Peruville.  

“Without Jesus in our lives, we wouldn’t have the mercy, grace, love and compassion for each other and others,” Arlene said. “I am thankful to have our whole family that is united because of the Lord Jesus.”  

“In 1969, we were introduced to the baptism in the Holy Spirit – a big force in our relationship that helped us cope with the trials and tribulations of living in America,” Jerry said. “I thank God for His blessing of physical strength and spiritual guidance to help us grow in grace.” 

The Cawards certainly had their share of trials, including losing Jerry’s business in 1984, which left them $90,000 in debt. They lost just about everything but their current home on Atwater Road.  

“We paid off all our debtors and never filed for bankruptcy,” Arlene said. “Walking through that was a test on both of us.” 

During all of their years together, Jerry and Arlene have added 17 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren to their family. They look forward excitedly to the party their children will hold for them in early July, as well as many more years together – “God willing!” 

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922.  

In brief: 

Groton Senior Club monthly meeting 

The Groton Senior Club will hold its monthly lunch and meeting at the Center Village Court housing complex on Wednesday, June 28, beginning at 12:15 p.m. All are welcome, both men and women, and the event is open to senior citizens from anywhere, not just Groton. Membership is just $12 per year for those who would like to join.  

Everyone is asked to bring a dish-to-pass, $1 to help cover the cost of supplies and your own place setting for the meal. Lunch will officially begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by entertainment.  

Groton Rotary Golf Classic 

The Groton Rotary Golf Classic will be held Friday, July 14 with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start – rain or shine – at Stonehedges Golf Course, 549 Stevens Rd. Captain & crew teams are $75 per person, with all proceeds to benefit the Groton Rotary Club. Get a hole-in-one and win a trip or $10,000! Send your team’s money via Zellepay.com or Venmo @Brian-Forney-7. For more information and sponsorship, contact Brian Forney at forneybw@yahoo.com or 573-512-0241.  

Save the date for VBS  

The New Testament Church of Peruville, at the corner of routes 34B and 38, will hold “The Great Race” Vacation Bible School from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. nightly July 11 through 14. All children aged four through 14 are welcome. Call Pastor Ray at 607-345-3262 with any questions.