Koch -- 60 years

Lester and Maxine Koch, Fort Scott, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Friday, April 7.

Lester Koch, Fredonia, and Maxine French, Beaverton, Mich., were married April 7, 1946, in Bell, Calif.

Lester served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II from October 1942 to March 1946. He spent 35 years in law enforcement, which included two years as undersheriff in Wilson County, 23 years with the Kansas Highway Patrol, and 10 years with the correctional center in Fort Scott, eight of those years as an administrator.

A homemaker, Maxine worked for J.C. Penney Co. in Chanute, Kan., for 10 years. She retired from the Fort Scott Wal-Mart where she was employed for 10 years.

Their four children and spouses are Sharon and Clay Wagoner, Garfield, Ark; Kathy and Jim Youngberg, Buffalo, Kan; Bill and Janet Koch, Lyons, Kan; and Deb Hand, Chanute, Kan. They have seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

A surprise luncheon will be served for the family and a surprise reception will be held in the couple's honor for family and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, at the United Brethren Church, 1421 Margrave St., Fort Scott. Cards may be sent to Lester and Maxine Koch, 1308 S. Barbee St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.