February 6 - 19, 2018
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ANNIVERSARY MILESTONE
Couple married for almost 75 years recall a lifetime of love Their secret: Respecting each other and keeping a good attitude even in tough times By Raiza Giorgi
news@santaynezvalleystar
T
he secret to a long and happy marriage for Creighton “Jim” Axtell and Phyllis Axtell is having respect for one another and having a good attitude, even in tough times. The Solvang couple, who will celebrate 75 years of marriage in May, took some time to talk about their relationship and how they help one another. Along with celebrating a milestone in their marriage, Jim is also turning 98 this year. As they sat at their kitchen table on a rainy morning, they helped one another communicate, as Phyllis’ eyesight isn’t as sharp as it used to be and Jim has a hard time hearing. “We make the perfect person because I help her see things and she yells in my ear,” Jim laughed. “She always has a great disposition and we have always got along very well, even when times were hard.” Phyllis pulled out two books and laid them on the table. Each was an autobiography of their lives and memories, including childhood photos and memories of what life was like in World War II. Jim was born in Missouri, where his father was a telegraph operator for Western Union and his mother was a clerk.
Photos contributed Left, Creighton “Jim” Axtell and Phyllis Axtell of Solvang will celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on May 26. Right, the Axtells on their wedding day almost 75 years ago.
“During those times everyone would gather around their radio sets and listen to FDR’s (President Franklin Delano Being married is a lot Roosevelt) fireside like building a house in speeches. The that things don’t always change in technolgo right, but you work ogy since I was a it out together and get child has amazed it done. — Jim Axtell me,” Jim said. When Jim graduated from high school he moved to Los Angeles to get involved in the war effort. He enlisted in the Air Force and then worked at Lockheed assembling parts. He spent more than 30 years there,
eventually retiring as a manager. Phyllis grew up in North Dakota as a farmer’s daughter and also moved to Los Angeles to join the war effort. “Creighton (as she calls her husband) and I met through a friend and we just knew we wanted to spend time together. We would take day trips together, often to Mount Wilson (a peak in the San Gabriel Mountains). We just love traveling together,” she said as she grabbed her husband’s hand. Phyllis got a job in the stock room at Lockheed and they married on May 26, 1943. The couple decided to go back to school so they spent their nights in classes, eventually earning master’s degrees. “Phyllis is the smart one of us. I am the
muscle,” Jim laughed as he flexed his arm. She rolled her eyes and laughed. When Jim was offered a position at Lockheed with top-secret responsibilities, he was asked if he wanted a good-paying job even though he couldn’t know what the job was until after he accepted. He said sure. “I was taken to an isolated building each day and I couldn’t tell anyone, not even Phyllis, what we were doing,” he said. He was part of a team developing jets that ended up producing the XP-80. The code name for the project was called “Skunk Works,” after a reference in the newspaper cartoon “Lil Abner.” COUPLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 25
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