Kenneth (Gene) and Joan Briggs

Kenneth (Gene) and Joan Briggs of Chester, W.Va., will celebrate their 50th anniversary on June 16.

They were married June 16, 1960, at the Reader Methodist Church in Reader.

Gene is the son of the late Thomas and Flossie Briggs of Wileyville, and Joan is the daughter of the late Virgil and Ortie Hassig of New Martinsville.

They have three children and two grandchildren: Bruce and Barb Barrett of Lisbon, Ohio; Roger and Kim Pettit (Buddy) of Marysville, Ohio; and Tommy and Becky Briggs (Jamie) of Chester, W.Va.

Gene and Joan both grew up in what’s called “Hoopie”, where they still enjoy visiting friends and relatives. In 1948 at the age of 18, Gene joined the Army and served in the “Big Red One”-1st Infantry Division, 16th Infantry Regiment in Germany, and also served as the Platoon Sergeant of the 5th Regimental Combat Team in Korea during the Korean War. After returning home from Korea in 1954, he moved to Weirton, W.Va., to work at Weirton Steel and continued working there as a rigger until he retired in 1991 with 36 years of service. Today, at the young age of 80, Gene still enjoys the farm life, raising cattle, and putting up hay.

Joan has been a homemaker since her marriage to Gene in 1960. Prior to raising her family, she loved working for Radio Station WETZ in New Martinsville and the Wetzel Republican Newspaper.

They have both been members of the Emmanuel Mission Church in Chester, W.Va., for several years where they enjoy fellowship with good friends.