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Good Love Story By Jaelin Palmer Phillip & Joanna Ervin met while Phillip was visiting family in Arkansas. Phillip went to church with his cousin and saw Joanna teaching Sunday school. "It was love at first sight for me," Phillip said. "I really thought she was out of my league and had to ask my cousin to call her and ask her out for me." Joanna agreed to go out with him on her lunch break. "I was suspicious of Phillip because I thought he talked funny with his California accent," Joanna said. But Phillip said he was "enthralled by her country charm." Phillip admits, "We didn't really know each other that well or for very long [before getting married]." He and Joanna met in July and dated for a week, then Phillip came back to Yucaipa (where he has lived since he was eight) and they corresponded by mail and phone. In October, Joanna visited Phillip and his family here in Yucaipa and then, in the second week of January, Phillip popped the question. It was a beautiful snowy day in Arkansas and Joanna's family was all sitting around. Phillip asked if he could talk to Joanna alone. Once in a private setting Phillip bit the bullet and asked her. He was nervous and had long hair and a beard at the time, so he quickly offered to shave it all of if she wanted. But all Joanna wanted was him and she said yes. Joanna said, "I was very surprised. I was not expecting a proposal." They were married a month later at Meadow Lake Baptist Church in Oil Trough, Arkansas on birthday is two days later, and then we got married two days after that. It has always been an expensive week for me," Phillip laughed. After almost 40 years of marriage, the Ervin's were asked if they still surprised each other. "Nothing surprises me about you," Joanna said. Phillip laughed and said, "I don't know if that's good or bad. But I'm surprised that she ever married me in the first place. I've said it before, I thought she could have done better." After his joking answer, Phillip got serious and gave his best advice to those who want to have a long, happy marriage like him. "You must treat each other with love and respect and never in Arkansas for three years before take the other for granted. Learn to returning to Yucaipa where they have compromise when need be and choose lived for the balance of their 37 years your arguments wisely." This advise is of marriage. Phillip and Joanna love something he is certainly qualified give. Yucaipa because of the small town feel. Since Phillip has so many events What some people may not realize to celebrate with his wife the week of is how close their anniversary is to Valentine's Day he has a message for her, Valentine's Day. As if that wasn't enough, "Being married to Joanna is the easiest Joanna's birthday is only days before thing I have ever done in my life. We their anniversary. "We celebrated have always been very happy, the best of Valentine's Day on the 14th, Joanna's friends, and madly in love." Phil & Mary Ostdiek met when one of Mary's friends introduced them at their junior high dance. Phil was a "surfer dude" who had moved to Yucaipa from Long Beach when he was 12. Mary had lived in Yucaipa all her life. The minute Phil and Mary met they say they were be together for the rest of our lives," Mary said. The two lovebirds remained steady all the way through high school, until they turned 17. That's when they mutually decided they wanted to get married. However, since they were not yet 18 they needed their parent's permission. "Our parents weren't the least bit surprised. They knew this was coming," Phil said. So once their parents signed the papers, Mary and Phil headed up to Utah (the closest state that allowed minors to get married). Phil and Mary are now 65 and 66 years old and have been married for 53 years. They have spent their entire marriage in Yucaipa because they enjoy the quiet town that doesn't have too many people. The two still love each other like they did back when they were young, Debbie, their daughter, said, "The way dad looks at mom with indescribable love is amazing. It's crazy that they don't hate each other after all this time!" Mary says her secret to a happy marriage is, "Respect, honesty, Christ, love and faith." They have two children, two grandchildren, and even one great grandchild. Sadly, their son passed away in 2012. Valentine message from Phil: "I have always loved you and I always will." OUR YUCAIPA | FEBRUARY 2014 11

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