Celebrating 70 years together; an OC couple marks a platinum wedding anniversary

When Ron Beard met his future wife, Sue, for the first time more than 70 years ago in their hometown of Indianapolis, there were instant sparks, their family says.

A first date rapidly morphed into young love and young love swiftly blossomed into marriage.

Ron, 91, and Sue, 85, Beard celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on May 8 at Sea Bluffs Ivy Signature Living in Dana Point, where the couple has lived the past few years.

“He was always special,” Sue Beard said of her husband. “I feel the same way about him now that I did then.”

So even as Ron Beard, a retired Huntington Beach firefighter, lives in the memory care community within Sea Bluffs in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s Disease, his wife of seven decades is by his side in the same apartment.

“She could live in our assisted living building, but wants to stay with him because she never leaves his side,” said Marybeth Maloney, director of activities at Sea Bluff.  “I remember the first time I met them, I said to Sue, it is so wonderful that you live here with him. And she said, ‘Well where else would I be. I’ve been with him for 70 years.’”

The couple’s children, Pam, 69, and Brian, 65, other relatives, friends and several of Beard’s fellow retired Huntington Beach firefighters joined the anniversary party Sea Bluff organized Thursday for the couple.

“We called their daughter and she absolutely loved the idea,” Maloney said.

Pam Beard said her father quit high school to join the Marines and was stationed in Northern California.

He had wanted to serve in the Korean War, his daughter said, but had an older brother who was killed in action and since the military wouldn’t allow the last surviving son in a family to serve in combat, Beard served as an MP.

She described her father as an “Indiana farm boy” who fell in love with California and decided to move to the state the first chance he got.

After the service, Beard trained to become a firefighter and worked for different departments before spending the majority of his career at Huntington Beach.

The firefighter’s position in Huntington Beach prompted the family’s move from Long Beach to Orange County.

There is a street named after Beard – Beard Lane – near Newland Street and Talbert Avenue.

Brian and Pam Beard said their parents have always been positive role models.

“They were always holding hands, all the time,” Pam Beard said. “They have the best relationship of anybody I’ve ever seen. So much love and respect for each other.”

Brian Beard chose his father to serve as best man for his own wedding.

“He’s my best friend,” Beard said.

“And I’ve been married to my wife, Barbara, for 39 years,” he added. “Which seems like a crazy amount of time until you compare it to 70.”