Ken and Shirley Hudson will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 1, 2006.

Shirley was 16 years old the first time she saw Ken at a party and kept asking the host to announce a "ladies choice" so that she could ask him to dance. When it finally came up he accepted and the romance began.

They lived in Vancouver B.C. at the time and dated steadily until 1952 when Ken's family made the big move to West Seattle. But their hearts could not be separated and through letters and frequent visits, they stayed together.

Six months later, when Ken was drafted into the U.S. Army, he knew he wanted to propose marriage before he left for his service. Since money was tight, he sacrificed the money the Army gave him for air travel and bought a bus ticket instead and used the rest to buy Shirley a beautiful engagement set.

His Army tour lasted two years. Shirley wrote to him every day and once again their love endured.

When Ken returned, they were married in Vancouver and they settled into their life in West Seattle.

Ken took an early retirement from Bethlehem Steel in 1982, but continued to work at various jobs around the community. He was instrumental in starting an exercise class at the Fauntleroy YMCA for seniors, which was also where he became interested in long distance running. He has participated in Marathons from Florida to Hawaii, often raising money in the process for charity.

Shirley concentrated on creating a beautiful home life and raising two wonderful boys, Steve (Lisa, daughter Georgia) Brian (Jodi, daughter Sarah and sons John and Joshua). She returned to work at Sears and then Pacific Lumber, where she retired in 1995.

They then decided to follow the sun and move to Case Grande, Ariz. eight years ago. Annual visits to Seattle keep them in touch with the family and the many friends, who congratulate them on this momentous occasion. A reception is being held in their honor at the Fauntleroy Church on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 2 p.m.