MARRIAGE NUMBAH UNO

DATE OF MARRIAGE: July 3, 1964 (Civil)
July 4, 1964 (Church)

LOCATION: CIVIL--Darmstadt, W Germany
CHURCH-Darmstadt-Arheilgen, W Germany


Christel Erika Anthes, daughter of Peter Ludwig and Elenore Anna Kunkel
Anthes, born July 24, 1946, Darmstadt-Arheilgen, W Germany

Samuel Wayne Womack, son of Samuel Otis and Naomi Brewer Womack, born
May 4, 1942, Judsonia, White Co, AR

Yes, we were married twice. Marriages performed by a minister in a
church are not legal in Germany or at least weren't back then. So, we
married in the civil marriage by a Burgermeister (Magistrate), and then
the Darmstadt-Arheilgen Lutheran Church the next day.

Normally, the father of the bride walks behind her down the aisle; while
the father of the groom walks behind him. Since my father was not there,
I asked my Flight Commander, Lt Ted Kravitz to do the honors for me. He
readily accepted. Lt Kravitz and his wife, Mary, were the only Americans
at this wedding.

After the ceremony, we departed for the photo studio where the above and
other photos were taken. Not many of them survive at this time I dont
think!! Then we went to her parent's house for the reception. It was
being set up while we were having photos made.

The following week Christel and I mainly drove around the OdenWald
(Odin's Forest) visiting old villages, castles and sightseeing. We went
to Heidelberg for one of the few lightings of Heidelberg Castle that are
done during the year. Fireworks and such also.
We rented a paddle boat (foot peddling) and went across the Neckar River
and watched from the river. Coming back we were almost ran over by a
large barge coming up river!

After the "honeymoon," we settled in an apartment at Pfarrer May Str 1,
Darmstadt-Pfungstadt W Germany. We rented from Dr Dieter Melchoir and
his wife (I think her name was Gudrun). Dr and Mrs Melchoir had just
returned from two years at the University of Florida/Tallahassee where
he received his Doctorate in Chemistry. They had a son, Bernhardt, born
there.

We lived on the third floor of the house, sloped ceilings and all. I
cannot count the number of times I bumped my head there.

On the second floor lived Mr and Mrs Heinrich Moser. I forget her name
now. He was a District Director of the German Equivalent of our
Veteran's Administration and a lawyer. He was authorized and did
practice before the war crimes trials at Nueremberg. They had a boxer
named Aika and that is where I fell in love with this breed of dog!
My current Babe is almost the spitting image of Aika!!

Christel was naturalized as a US Citizen at San Angelo, Tom Green Co,
TX, May 1971. Shortly after that we left for Little Rock Air Force Base
AR.
We were divorced on October 5, 1971, Pulaski Co Chancery Court, Little
Rock AR. I retained custody of our two children
Click this link for wedding photos>> PHOTOS