They met in the fourth grade when Archie briefly attended the same small Oregon school as Awana. “I was only there for three days and she’s the only thing I remember,” he said.

His mother had died when he was 5 and he’d been living in an orphanage in Oakland, California. After a few days in Oregon, his father sent for him and off he went.

He returned briefly in 1945 when they were in high school and that’s when the romance kindled. This time when he left for California, letters flew back and forth between them.

“She’s the only girl I ever dated,” Archie said.

Awana laughed. “I never had any competition!”

But she was smitten, too. From their Nine Mile Falls home, she pondered what it was about Archie that made him so unforgettable.

“It was fascination,” she said. “I was just fascinated with him.” More here. Cindy Hval, SR

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