Patricia Spry honored on 70th birthday

When they married a couple of years after graduation, they could not have imagined the challenges that awaited their marital union. At age 35, Patricia was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease that ravages the body’s network of nerves, leaving most victims totally dependent on others for every detail of their basic physical support.

Joined by a host of family, friends and well-wishers, Patricia celebrated her 70th birthday May 25 at a reception in Central Church of Christ’s benevolence annex.

“When we said our vows nearly 50 years ago, we took them seriously. We weren’t going to let anything break those vows,” Boyd recalled Sunday.

“Boyd’s faithfulness in attending to her every need merits everyone’s admiration, and shows the strength of love and devotion in a Christian marriage,” said Central elder Steve Stubblefield.

“When we’re dismayed that so many marriages are dissolved for selfish and often trivial reasons, we are inspired and uplifted by the example of commitment and dedication by Boyd and Patricia,” he observed.

From their beginnings in rural Cannon County, the Spry newlyweds started traveling the world after Boyd joined the US Air Force, where he became a specialist in servicing the huge engines of the Lockheed C130 transport planes.

During his 22 years with Air Force, Spry was so highly regarded for his technical expertise that he was dispatched anywhere in the world to help investigate accidental crashes of the beefy four-engine plane.

In his many different postings with the Air Force, he was a leader or major partner in establishing new congregations of the Church of Christ or in supporting small, struggling churches. After settling in McMinnville the Spry’s placed membership with Central, where Boyd became one of the founders of the congregation’s highly successful inmate ministry at Warren County Jail.

“It has been a blessing to know and to work with Boyd and Patricia,” Stubblefield remarked. “Their total love and devotion to each other, despite the obstacles and challenges, reminds that in Christ all things are possible.”