Miss Joan PITMAN, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger PITMAN, 112 16th S.E., became the bride of David Allan BIRCH, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raleigh J. BIRCH, 9 Willowbrook Dr., Sunday afternoon in the Wesley Methodist Church.

Dr. Paul Arnold PETERSON, pastor, performed the double ring ceremony. Baskets of mums and daisies in autumn shades, palms and lighted candelabra formed a setting for the exchange of vows.

Mrs. Wallace ALLAN, organist, played a prelude of nuptial music and accompanied Jay ALLEN who sang "Through the Years" and "Because" and Mrs. Paul A. PETERSON, "The Lord's Prayer." The bride's brother, Richard, lighted the candles.

The bride was attended by Mrs. Russel A. AMLING, maid of honor, and Miss Marilyn PHILLIPS, Bremerton, Wash., and Mrs. Barbara GRAHAM, Ishpeming, Mich., as bridesmaids. They were classmates of the bride at St. Mary's School of Nursing in Rochester. Rusty and Billy TABBERT, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Arvie TABBERT of Kensett and cousins of the bride, were ringbearers.

Paul E. BIRCH was his brother's bestman and ushers were Brian BIRCH, Russell K. AMLING, Leo LOVICK and Merlyn PETERS.

The bride, given in marriage by her father, wore an ankle-length gown of white crystalette over taffet, having a full hoop skirt. The fitted bodice was fashioned with a scalloped picture neckline. Her fingertip veil of silk illusion net fell from a headband of crystalette edged with seed pearls. She carried a bouquet of white feathered mums, yellow roses and snapdragons.

The bridal attendants had waltz-length gowns of chrystalette over taffeta in shades of yellow, rust and cocoa brown, having scoop necklines and full skirts gathered to a fitted bodice to match and carried colonial bouquest of feathered mums in autumn shades.

The ringbearers carried the rings on white crystalette pillows.

The mother of the bride wore an aero blue suit dress with matching velvet hat. The bridegroom's mother had a slate blue crepe dress, trimmed at the neckline with rhinestones. Her accessories were pink. Both had corsages of yellow baby mums.

A reception was held in the church parlors for 200 guests following the ceremony. Circle 2 of the WSCS of which mrs. John COOKMAN is chairman, were in charge of the reception. Autumn colors were used on the serving tables and the 4-tiered wedding cake was decorated with yellow roses.

Mrs. John VESTERBY and Mrs. Marvin PETERSON were dining room hostesses. Miss Colleen WATERMAN and Miss B'Ann STORK, classmantes of the bride, poured. Mrs. Leo LOVICK and Mrs. Merlyn PETERS, cousins of the bride, had charge of the gift table and Mrs. Donald WALLS, another cousin, the guest book. Mrs. Howard MILLER played piano selections during the reception.

For going away, the bride wore a rust faille dress with black velvet trim, velvet hat and black accessories. After at wedding trip East, they will be at home in Mason City.

The bride is a graduate of Mason City High School and St. Mary's School of Nursing, Rochester. The bridegroom is a graduate of Mason City High School and Junior College and served two years with the armed forces. He is employed by the J.C. Penney Co.

Out of town guests at the wedding were: Mr. and Mrs. Paul MATZEN, Greenfield, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Claude CORY, Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. R. W. STRICKLAND and Gary of Fort Dodge; Mr. and Mrs. M. M. GREEN, Renwick; Miss B'Ann STORK and Miss Colleen WATERMAN, Rochester; Mrs. Ida BECKER, Mr. and Mrs. Roy KIMBALL, Mr. and Mrs. William McKIBBEN, Mr. and Mrs. Carl PETERSON and Mr. and Mrs. Donald WALLS.

From Ventura were: Mr. and Mrs. Keith RANSOM and Mr. and Mrs. LOVICK; Rockwell, Mr. and Mrs. William KOPPEN and Mr. and Mrs. Laurence GOOCH; Rockford, Mrs. Howard KOPPEN and Mr. and Mrs. Edward DeGRAW; Dougherty, Mrs. Vincent MURPHY; Garner, Mrs. Ronald GREIMAN; Swaledale, Mr. and Mrs. Roy TRIMBLE; Northwood, Mr. and Mrs. John COYLE and Helen COYLE; Kensett, Mr. and Mrs. TABBERT and Mr. and Mrs. Dean COYLE; Rock Falls, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence KOPPEN; Iowa Falls, Miss JoAnne SKAGGS.

Hostesses for prenutial entertaining for the bride were Mrs. Doris BELL, Mrs. Arvie TABBERT, Mrs. H. C. GRUPP, Mrs. John VESTERBY, Mrs. Marvin PETERSON and Mrs. John COOKMAN. Mr. and Mrs. Raleigh BIRCH entertained members of the wedding party, following rehearsal on Saturday evening.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2011