Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 28, 1953

The marriage of Miss Helen COMBS, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold COMBS, and Ellis Ray SHELDEN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy SHELDEN, was solemnized Sunday evening, June 14, at five o'clock at the COMBS residence [in Mount Ayr]. The double-ring service vows were read by Rev. George C. PENNINGTON, pastor the the Methodist church, in the presence of eighty relatives and friends.

The home was beautifully decorated by the Medames Cecil SAVILLE, Lawrence KIMBALL, and George MOSBARGER, with an archway, over which twined pink roses and mock orange blossoms. Large baskets of mock orange blossoms, pink roses and pink peonies, added to the setting.

Nuptial music was played by Miss Joan TERWILLIGER, who accompanied Miss Mary Margaret HOOD as she sand, "I Love You Truly," "You Were Mant for Me," and "Because," as the Misses Norma Kay SNEDEKER and Kay TAYLOR, lighted the candles. Miss HOOD also sang, "The Lord's Prayer," as the couple knelt on a satin pillow at the altar concluding the ceremony.

To the strains of Mendelsohn's Wedding March, played by Miss TERWILLIGER, the members of the bridal party took their places.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a floor-length gown of white taffeta with a lace overshirt. It was fashioned with a fitted bodice, Peter Pan collar, to which was pinned a lovely rhinestone pin, a gift from the groom, and long lace mitts which came to points over the wrists. her fingertip veil fell from a tiara of seed pearls and she carried a Colonial bouquet of pink carnations tied with a taffeta bow and lace. She also carried out the tradition of wearing something old, which was a family heirloom necklace of her great-grandmother, something blue and something new.

____ served as maid of honor. She wore a strapless gown of lavender-pink taffeta with lavender net overskirt and carried a Colonial bouquet.

Miss Retha Jean MIDDLETON, as bridesmade, wore a strapless floor-length gown of yellow taffeta with overskirt of white net and lace, and carried a Colonial bouquet.

Marylin COMBS, sister of the bride, was dressed in a floor-length hooped gown of lavendar satin and net, and wore a lavendar tiara. She carried a Colonial bouquet, similar to that of the maid of honor.

The rings were carried on a white satin heart-shaped pillow by Kayla SMITH, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll SMITH, and Marlon Tindle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jim TINDLE. Kayla was dressed in a green nylon gown and Marlon wore dark trousers and coat.

Ronnie JOHNSTON served as best man and Pvt. Ike McGEHEE was groomsman. Ushers were John COMBS, a brother of the bride, and Billy MONAGHAN, a friend of the couple.

The mother of the bride chose for the wedding a lavendar puckered nylon and the groom's mother wore a nylon print. Each wore a pink corsage.

Immediately following the ceremony a reception was held in the home. The centerpiece of the lace-covered table was a three-tier wedding cake with a miniature bride and groom. Candles in pink and white, the chosen colors of the bride, adorned the table from which was served punch, cake, pnk and white mints, nuts, and coffee. The first piece of cake was cut in the traditional manner by the bride and groom, after which the remainder was cut and served by Mrs. George MOSBARGER and Mrs. Melvis EIGHMY. Mrs. Lawrence KIMBALL, aunt of the bride, and Mrs. Ted DEFENBAUGH, sister of the groom, poured. Mrs. James COOK was in charge of the guest book and Misses Mary Ann RUSK and Marcia DALBEY arranged the gifts. Other hostesses sere the Mesdames Cecil SAVILLE, Rex SHAHA, Arthur DEIBERT, and Carroll SMITH. Rex SHAHA served as photographer at the wedding.

The young couple left following the reception on a short honeymoon trip.

Guests from a distance in attendance were the Messrs. and Mesdames James TINDLE and son, of Winterset, Roy SHELDON, of Glendale, Calif., Melvin EIGHMY, of Grant City, Mo., Lawrence ZARUBA, of Diagonal, and Orville BEAR and Ramon, of Tingley.

The bride is a graduate of the Mount Ayr high school with the class of 1953, and is presently employed by Horne's Rexall drug store in this city.

The groom graduated with the class of 1952 from Mount Ayr high school, and is now serving with the U.S. navy.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012