On Aug. 23, 1944, Betty Estelle Beville and Harry Lynch Elmore were married at Sacred Heart Church in Savannah.  

Just prior to their marriage, Harry completed Naval Basic Training in Camp Peary, Va., and Betty had worked in the lingerie department at Adlers Department Store in Savannah. After marriage, the couple traveled to Boston, where Betty remained until Harry shipped out to the Pacific war zone aboard the battleship USS Arkansas during WWII.

Betty returned to Savannah shortly after Harry’s deployment and began work in the Savannah Morning News’ composing room as a copyholder for proofreader Mr. Charles Turner.  Later, Betty began managing Carriage House Apartments, a position she made into a 23-year long career. In addition, Betty became one of the founders of The Savannah Apartment Association and served as president, vice president, program chairman and on the board of directors. She also became Welwood’s Garden Club President, vice president of the St. James Home and School Association and served on the board of directors for Deacy Welding Supply Inc.  

Following the war’s conclusion, Harry returned home on Feb. 14, 1946 and worked at various places: Central Georgia Rail Road, Savannah Iron Works and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aboard the dredge The Henry Bacon. In time, Harry became the superintendent of the corps yard on Hutchinson Island. He retired from the Corps after 30 years of dedicated service. Soon thereafter, he served as president of his family business, Deacy Welding Supply Inc., for a decade before retiring.

After retirement, Betty and Harry designed and built a home with the aid of their sons-in-law on the Savannah River bluff north of Clyo.  

In 1995 the couple drove from Clyo to Alaska visiting en route the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Yellowstone and the 1,500 mile U.S.-Canadian Highway. The three-month, 15,000-mile excursion also allowed them to see all the Western states. Additionally, they have been to all U.S. states except Hawaii and Canadian provinces from the Yukon to the Maritime Provinces. They still enjoy traveling and take at least one cruise a year.

They have four daughters and four sons-in-law: Pam and Bernie Weber, Nita and Tim Crawford, Mary and Guy Downing, and Kerrie and Steve Matthews. They have nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Currently, Harry and Betty are members and attendees of Mizpah United Methodist Church in Kildare.  

Betty’s hobbies are painting, decorating, gardening, and landscaping.  Harry enjoys entertaining his family and completing home improvement projects. Together, they are an active, positive couple. They enjoy life and love their family and multitude of friends.  

On Aug. 23, 2009, the couple will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary with their family.