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HENSLEY - PHILLIPS
Phillips celebrate 50th golden anniversary
On Oct. 23, 1954, Ramona Hensley and Jesse Phillips exchanged their marriage vows in Carson City, Nev.
Recently, their children hosted a golden anniversary party attended by 65 family members and friends at Mace Meadow Golf and County Club in Pioneer.
The former Ramona Ruth Hensley was born in Norman, Okla., then moved to the Central Valley in 1941.
Jesse Leon Phillips was born in Treat, Ark., and had also moved to the Central Valley in 1941.
During World War II, Jesse served with the 82nd Airborne Easy Company.
After returning home, he worked for the Tillie Lewis Foods Company in Stockton for more than 20 years and then at Merritt Industries in Pittsburgh until his retirement in 1993.
Ramona is a local artist whose work was displayed at the Golden Chain Gallery until its closure in 2001 and now in Amador City at Bellflower.
She also worked at Volcano Telephone Company until her retirement in 1996.
The couple’s first 25 years of married life was spent in the San Joaquin Valley, raising five children in the Linden area.
By the late 1970s, they built a home in Pine Grove and moved into it permanently in 1978.
Jesse and Ramona now enjoy their retirement with their family, gardening and traveling as much as possible.
Their five children, all living in California are James Dotson of Burson; Crystal Hinthorne of Stockton; Carrol Hope of Pioneer; Rene Miller of Woodbridge and Shelly Phillips of Lake Berryessa.
Their grandchildren are James Dotson, Jr., of Valley Springs; Gina Hunter of Powers, Ore.; Ronnie Forsythe of Fernley, Nev.; Nathan, Marissa and Stephanie Miller of Woodbridge; Marla Sousa of Washington, D.C.; Billy Sousa of Hughson; and Jesse Sousa, Michael Hope and Carie North all of Stockton. This couple also has 10 great-grandchildren.
As Ramona has been an elephant lover and collector of elephant figurines and collectibles, the couple was presented with a trip to Monterey and a stay at a private animal compound and EARS (Elephant Animal Rescue Society) Bed and Breakfast.
They both participated in working with the trainers, bathing the elephants, walking with not only the elephants but lions, tigers and bears as well as other animals that are used in television and Disney features.
One highlight was breakfast being served at their private cottage - by an elephant.
