WAPAKONETA — Kay and Gary Byrd, of Wapakoneta, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, Dec. 30, 2017, at a family dinner hosted by thier daughters at the Versailles Inn.

Gary and the former Kay Gross were married Dec. 30, 1967, in the Grace Lutheran Church in Jackson Center. Pastor Daniel Snyder performed the ceremony. Witnesses were matron of honor Shirley Schindel, sister of the bride; bridesmaids Marcia Lenhart, niece of the bridegroom, and Elizabeth Westfall, cousin of the bride; best man Tom Schindell, brother-in-law of the bride; Emory Byrd, brother of the bridegroom, Earl Helmlinger, brother-in-law of the bridegroom; ring bearer Fred Gross, cousin of the bride; flower girl Julie Clause, cousin of the bride; and miniature bride Dianne Oakley, niece of the bride.

Gary is the son of the late Mary and Roy Byrd. He has two living sisers, Betty Bowman, of Punta Gorda, Florida, and Dolores Elsass, of Fort Myers, Florida. Another sister and brother-in-law, Norma and Earl Helmlinger, and a brother and sister-in-law, Emory and Doris Ann Byrd, are deceased.

Kay is the daughter of the late Martha and Harold Gross. She has a sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Tom Schindel, of West Liberty.

The Byrds have three daughters and sons-in-law, Shelley and Jeff Ellis, of League City, Texas, Holly and Lyle Faler, of Hunstville, and Kathy and Brian Monnin, of Wapakoneta. They have 10 grandchildren.

Kay retired from Prodeva in Jackson Center and babysits her granddaughter. Gary retired from Airstream, but is employed part time in the service center to lead tours.

The couple attend Grace Lutheran Church in Jackson Center. They enjoy reading, woodworking, gardening, sewing and making things for family and friends.