J.C. and Helen Gaw tell stories of 64 years of marriage
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They met on the steps of the Student Center at David Lipscomb College. ‘She was the prettiest girl there, and I spotted her first and asked her out,’ says Dr. Gaw.
Well, apparently she said ‘yes’ and 65 years later Dr. and Mrs. Gaw can tell their four children, five grandchildren and six great grand-children how they met.
After leaving David Lipscomb, Dr. Gaw began working his way through medical school at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. Both J. C. and Helen worked long hours doing any job they could get to pay tuition and living expenses.
Both their first daughter, Jane, and second daughter, Barbara, were born while J.C. was still in medical school. Their third daughter, Marilyn Gail, was delivered while he was an intern at Nashville General Hospital.
‘It was quite a balancing act raising three daughters, studying and working. But it was all worth it,’ says both J.C. and Helen. Their son, John, came along soon after they had settled in McMinnville, where Dr. Gaw opened his practice in 1954.
In his almost half a century of medical service to the community, Dr. Gaw has seen thousands of patients in his family practice. But somehow he always seemed to find the time to listen to each and every one. He also treated many patients who could not afford medical services elsewhere.
Helen was the business manager for the office for many years, and kept things running smoothly. He was the first Chief of Staff at Warren County Hospital, and was also a general surgeon. He also served on the Board of Directors of both Warren Regional and River Park Hospital.
When not practicing medicine, Dr. Gaw and his wife would often visit rural churches in surrounding communities on Sundays and he would act as a visiting preacher.
‘We would take the entire family, when the kids were young; I would preach and then afterwards we would always enjoy the best home-cooked meals,’ remembers Gaw.
Dr. Gaw has been an elder at the Central Church of Christ for many years. Now retired, the Gaws like to stay close to home.
‘McMinnville was a great place to live, raise a family, and build a medical practice all these years ‘ and now we think it’s a great place to retire,’ said Gaw.
When asked the secret to their successful marriage, both say, ‘Be good to one another.’ Helen adds with a wink, ‘ And behave yourself.’
Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Gaw will be celebrating their wedding anniversary on Sun., July 15 at the Central Church of Christ fellowship hall between the hours of 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Family, friends, church members and former patients are encouraged to come and visit with the couple.
Congratulatory cards sharing a favorite memory or story about Dr. and Mrs. Gaw can be mailed to: Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Gaw, Central Church of Christ, P.O. Box 536, McMinnville, Tenn., 37111.