By Tesa Strasser

The Press-News

Chuck and Sally (Sarah) Morrison have been Valentines for 63 years. They were married in the Dueber United Methodist Church on Christmas Eve, 1946.

About a year before that big day, Sally and her friend, Betty VanHorn, were asked by Chuck's Aunt Hazel Lewis to write to two young men in the service. Aunt Hazel showed them photos and Sally chose to write to Chuck "because he was better looking," she said.

Betty later married the young man she chose to write to that day. He is Chuck's cousin, Bill Lewis.

Despite the fact that Sally's first letter to him was accidentally addressed to "George" he wrote back and the love story began.

Months later, in May, he had leave time from the Navy and planned to come home to meet Sally for the first time and take her to her senior prom. Unfortunately his superior officer changed those plans and Sally had to wear her beautiful yellow dress to the prom with a friend of a friend. Speaking of that night she claims she "did not have a very good time."

A couple weeks later Sally and Chuck finally met one afternoon as she was about to clock in at work at the W. T. Grant Co. store in downtown Canton. After school at Timken High she climbed the stairs to the second floor where the time clocks were located. As she did so she looked to the top of the steps to see her friend, Betty, on the arm of a sailor and another fellow she recognized from photos to be her penpal. "I thought to myself right then, 'I'm going to marry that guy,'" she shared with a sparkle in her eye.

Thankfully her boss gave her the day off and they went for a milk shake and hamburger. While dating they would go dancing at Meyers Lake and ing strolling through the city parks.

Several months later Chuck popped the question over lunch at Richie's Restaurant at the corner of McKinley and West Tuscarawas Streets. Sally was on her lunch hour as she was then working as a switchboard operator at the Canton court house. She looked away for a moment and then discovered a diamond ring on the plate and Chuck grinning from ear to ear.

The Morrisons now have four children, each of which are East Canton High School graduates and "special in their own way," according to their mother.

Sandra is a retired payroll clerk. She shares her property in North Industry with her parents. When Sally experienced some health issues in 2003, Sandra invited her parents to build a private residence connected to her home. "It works out well for both of us," said Chuck. "We look out for each other." Prior to that move the Morrisons lived on Noble Street in East Canton for 48 years.

The older son, Robert, lives in Louisville. He and his wife, Nancy, have two children, Traci and Robert.

Sally and Chuck have two great-granddaughters, one of which belongs to the younger Robert. Ellamae is a great joy to them. Chuck proudly shares about the heroic feats of Robert's service to our country in the Vietnam conflict where he received a bronze star for bravery. He risked his life to secure a radio to communicate information that saved many lives.

The third Morrison child is Diane. She is married to Dave Akerman and lives in Alabama. Their two sons are Tony and Joe.

Charles Morrison married Canton South grad, Sherry Phillips. They have three children: Charles, Sara and Rachel. The second Morrison great-granddaughter, Cordila, belongs to the younger Charles and his wife. Sara is expecting their first great-grandson soon. She is married to a U.S. Marine serving in Japan. Having fought in World War II against the Japanese it was difficult at first for Chuck to realize that a loved one would be born on "enemy"" soil.

Chuck served during WWII on an amphibious personal attack vessel, the USS Effingham. Their job was to get supplies to soldiers. His most memorable delivery was to Okinawa, Japan under fire.

When asked the secret to marital longevity, Sally was quick to state, "Communication, lots of communication, honesty and time away from each other sometimes."

Chuck works part time for local car dealerships transporting cars which gives them some of that individual time.

Chuck believes folks unfortunately now think everything has to be perfect. "Make the best of situations. Everybody has problems, just work it out," was his advice.

Growing up Charles learned how to "make the best" of some very difficult situations. His mother died when he was 8 or 9 years old. The youngest of four boys his father could not afford to support all four, so he and his brother, Walter, went to live at Fairmont Children's Home. The four years there were difficult. Eventually they ran away and were reunited with their father. When WWII broke out, Walter was drafted. At age 17 Charles enlisted in the U. S. Navy.

Sally was an only child to parents that divorced when she was 2 years old. She lived with her grandparents until she married Chuck.

The Morrisons were the owner of Charlie's TV and Antenna Repair business in East Canton for about 20 years. Prior to that Chuck did various other job including working for another television repair business, carpentry work and working at The Timken Company in the steel mill. Sally worked in the East Canton High School cafeteria for 19 years after her children were all in school.

This couple have travelled during much of their retirement. They owned several motor homes and put lots of miles on them. Sally's favorite trip was to North and South Dakota. She liked seeing Yellowstone National Park. For 15 years they wintered in Florida.

Chuck and Sally have been members of Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church since 1954.