For the Cumberland Times-News
COLLEGE PARK — Sept. 14, 2007, marked the 50th wedding anniversary for Vernon E. and Frances (Teter) Poole of College Park, who grew up in the Cumberland area. They first met at a square dance at North Branch Fire Hall, where she admired his much-modified Studebaker. Their life has been filled with cars, planes and children all these years.
Vernon and Frances were married in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, College Park, and soon bought the house there where they still reside.
Frances graduated from Ursuline Academy in 1955 and attended Frostburg State University. She has been mainly a homemaker, with part-time jobs, and a helpmate to Vernon in all his endeavors. She enjoys spending time with her grandson, sewing ( she made her daughter’s wedding gown), quilting and going to the seashore.
Vernon graduated from Fort Hill High School and enlisted in the United States Air Force for four years with a tour of duty in Korea. After graduating from the University of Maryland, he taught automotive day and evening classes at Northwood High School in Silver Spring until retiring in 1983. Since retirement, he has stayed active in the automotive business.
The couple has three children and one grandson. Vernon Jr. is a real estate agent and photographer in the tri state region. Jeffrey is an I-CAR Master instructor for the Northeast Area and married Sandy Lawrence in 1989. They live in Seabrook with their son, Shawn, who is eight. Debra is a computer systems analyst for a major grocery chain in the mid-Atlantic region. She married Michael Brown in 1987 and they reside in Crofton. She is active in Australian Shepherd rescue and competes in agility competition with one of their two Aussies.
For many years Vernon was a private pilot and owned a succession of small airplanes that he refurbished, enjoyed flying and sold. Both Vernon and Frances belong to the Experimental Aircraft Association and have attended the annual conventions in Oshkosh, Wis., and Lakeland, Fla. In 1984, they purchased a worn out 1957 Piper Tripacer aircraft which they restored and converted to a taildragger (Pacer) in their backyard garage. They re-covered it with fabric and painted it. After a year of hard work, the first test flight was quite an exciting occasion. It flew! Through the years, the whole family enjoyed many flying visits to family and friends in Cumberland, Florida, West Virginia and other areas.
Their children hosted a surprise dinner party for the couple on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Sir Walter Raleigh Restaurant in College Park. Family and friends gathered to celebrate and reminisce while watching a video slide show of the Pooles’ life during the event. The evening was topped off with a champagne toast and anniversary cake. It was a lovely evening for all who attended.
