Published: June 12, 2009 10:51 am      

Batchelors celebrate anniversary

CUMBERLAND — Frank R. and Elva J. (Gallaher) Batchelor celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, June 20, 2009. Frank and Elva (known to all as Ellie) were married at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Gaithersburg. Frank is the son of the late Howard F. and Mabel (Aro) Batchelor of Hyattsville, N.J. He worked for the National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort Meade as a cryptanalyst for 35 years, retiring in 1988. Ellie is the daughter of the late Alvin Harlan and Annie Mary (McCullough) Gallaher of Childs. Ellie taught high school English in Montgomery County, retiring in 1989. They currently reside in Cumberland.

Ellie teaches organ lessons and music workshops. She is the founder of the Notables Organ Club (www.thenotables.com), a group of musically-inclined senior citizens who perform locally for nursing home residents, charity functions and many other gatherings. She is the director and sings with the Ladybirds Barbershop Harmony Singers (www.palestars.com/ladybirds), as well as the Afternoon Delight Quartet. She is also the choir director at Midland Grace United Methodist Church and a Red Hat Lady of the Frosty Flakes Chapter. Frank is technical advisor and sound man for the Notables and Ladybirds. He is a movie buff and enjoys solving word puzzles and cryptograms, the harder the better, playing Sudoku and reading. Frank is a Mr. Fix-It who can repair most anything. Both Ellie and Frank have enjoyed years of camping all over the United States.

Ellie and Frank are the parents of three children, including Kenneth M. Batchelor who also lives in Cumberland, Judy E. Wilson, who lives in Gettysburg, Pa., and Barbara A. Lusardi, who resides in New Richmond, Wis. They have two sons-in-law, Richard Wilson and Mark Lusardi, along with four grandchildren, Scott T. Wilson, Caitlin A. Wilson, Laura A. Lusardi and Eric J. Lusardi, and are affectionately known by them as Grammy and Grammydad.

This past September, the children and their families treated Ellie and Frank to an overnight stay at Stuart Castle in Scotland in honor of their golden wedding anniversary, where they were literally king and queen for the day!

Ellie and Frank have been soul mates and lovebirds for a wonderful 50 years and their children and grandchildren love them dearly and wish them a very happy 50th anniversary and many more to come!