Jack and Alvena White of Palmyra, Mo., were honored for their 50th wedding anniversary with a surprise party Sept. 26, hosted by their children.

Mr. White and the former Alvena Nokes were married Sept. 25, 1959, in the home of a justice of the peace in Missouri.

They are the parents of Paul White and his wife, Kathy Standbridge White, and Lori Dowil and her husband, Mark. They have three grandchildren.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. White lived in rural Palmyra. Mr. White needed to fulfill a commitment to the Air Force Reserves and returned to active duty and was shipped off to the Korean War. When he returned, they moved to Colorado and then back to Palmyra.

Mr. White was employed by Gardner Denver, then joined American Cyanamid, where he retired as a control board operator in 2000. He is employed part time by Swiss Colony and enjoys working in his wood shop, collecting books and historical items, and is a lifelong aviation buff.

Mrs. White worked for 10 years at American Safety in Palmyra until it closed. She enjoys quilting, working outdoors in the yard and grooming her flowers.

The couple met when Mrs. White decided to go out with her sister's relative Marilee for a movie at a drive-in. She was chauffeured home by Mr. White.