Page 20 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2019- Online Magazine

Walter Charlotte Wheat
Love Never Fails
very one who knows Walter
and Charlotte Wheat thinks
Eof them as responsible, law-
abiding citizens. So, it will come as
a surprise to many that their love
story, spanning 63 years and three
states, began in jail!
Walter was born in Carthage,
Missouri and raised on a nearby
farm, beginning his education in
a one-room schoolhouse. Upon
graduation from Carthage High
School, where Walter had been
a member of Future Farmers of
America and the school band,
he attended business college in
Joplin, Missouri, while working
for a company known as Industrial
20 Lubbock Senior Link
by Cheryl Luginbill
Supply. Walter a space in the spectator benches
then transferred behind her by throwing the bowling
to Ozark Bible ball backwards! After that fiasco,
College, also Charlotte didn’t think Walter would
located in Joplin, to ask her out again, but he did.
obtain a ministry
degree. They were married Easter weekend
on April 6, 1956 at Dunnegan Grove
Charlotte (née Christian Church near Joplin. An
Barrick) was born unseasonably late snow appeared
in the mining town that day, so the lard and flour
of Ajo, Arizona, but spread all over the car windows by
her family moved joking friends turned into a thick
to Woodward, greasy paste. The newlyweds had
Oklahoma, in time to stop at a freezing cold carwash
for her father to be before continuing their drive to the
drafted into WWII. honeymoon cottage!
Later, they moved
to Wichita, Kansas, Walter and Charlotte established a
where Charlotte home in Joplin. Their first child, a
was active in choir girl, was born in May 1957, and a
and band at North second daughter followed in March
High School and 1959. Their son was born in 1961. In
became a Red the meantime, Walter and Charlotte
Cross-certified were very active in various small
lifeguard. churches where Walter would
preach on weekends, and Charlotte
In the fall of 1955, would play piano for services.
Walter was a senior and Charlotte From 1960 to 1968, Walter and
a freshman at Ozark Bible College. Charlotte were full-time ministers
They met on a blind date, arranged with the Christian Churches in
by Charlotte’s friend, Roxie, and Iberia and Stockton, Missouri. In
Roxie’s boyfriend, Pete. The plan 1968, the Wheats accepted a ministry
was to double-date the next Friday
night. However, Walter had already position with Central Christian
volunteered to help that evening Church in Roswell, New Mexico.
with a ministry at the town jail, The couple enjoyed working at
so there was a slight change of church camps and family retreats,
plans. Charlotte, Roxie, and Pete as well as taking youth groups
joined Walter at the jail, and after sledding at Cloudcroft. Music was
the service, the two couples played always an important part of their
miniature golf. lives, and the family would often
sing four-part harmony when on
A second date involved bowling, long trips in the car. They also liked
and Walter patiently explained to go caroling during the Christmas
the rudiments of the game to holidays.
Charlotte. She promptly cleared