Jan and Rich Hardy enjoyed welcoming friends and family to remember the good times at a recent anniversary celebration. Photo by Debra Dingman

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Surrounded by many friends and family, Rich and Jan Hardy felt the love as they recently celebrated their 67th anniversary at the Veterans Memorial Hall.

Yes, it might be an odd number to celebrate but Rich Hardy wanted to do something very special for his “beloved,” who is now a resident of Farmstead Memory Care in Dixon. 

“She likes people and likes people to talk to her, so I wanted to give that to her,” Rich Hardy said, holding back tears.

Jan Hardy was brought in a wheelchair and seemed to recognize many of the guests who took turns visiting her. The couple smiled for pictures in front of a large cake congratulating them on their long marriage.

“With a picture or a person in front of her, it seems something clicks,” Rich Hardy said. “Whenever you got close to her, I could see her eyes light up but it’s been really tough. I didn’t realize how long I’ve loved this lady and how much it was a day-to-day situation over the years. Things weren’t always peaches and cream… I know it is very difficult for people to come visit her so I thought this was a way we could bring her out to visit them.”

Rich Hardy met his future wife at a high school 4-H/FFA dance when he was given leave over the holidays from his United States Air Force Radar Tech job at Point Arena and stayed with his buddy’s family in Placerville. Jan was in high school there and also went to the dance.

Rich and Jan Hardy married in 1958. Rich said they have been “best friends” ever since. Courtesy photo

“Jan was a senior and we just hit it off,” Rich Hardy said. “We made a date to go to Lake Tahoe for New Year’s Eve and it just went on from there.” 

Rich Hardy “put a lot of miles” on a “big ‘ol Chrysler” that he bought going back and forth to see her.

“That car later brought all of our kids home from the hospital,” Rich Hardy added. They were married in 1958 with Jan Hardy in a wedding gown and veil she sewed.

After being in the Air Force, Rich Hardy worked at an automotive parts counter that led to promotions and better pay as his bosses quickly realized he was a huge asset to their sales departments. His love for people established friendships and business loyalty with customers. 

Over the years and with a few companies inviting him to work for them, Rich Hardy met Odell Leavitt. Leavitt  owned a Rambler dealership and provided a small trailer in his backyard in Dixon on Sierra Drive, which at that time was the end of the small town. 

“I would go home on the weekends and I got a percentage of the sales, never had to pay for gas and Jan was taking care of the babies,” Rich Hardy said.

With the help of the GI Bill, he saved up enough money to put down on a home being built “at the very edge of Dixon.” It was 1964 and the home price was $15,800.

“That’s where I learned to be a handyman,” Rich Hardy said with a laugh. “Beyond us was just farms and orchards.”

Dixon is where the couple raised their five children, who all attended Dixon High School. They never moved since. 

Over the years, Jan Hardy’s sewing skills brought beauty to their home in curtains, towels and aprons while adorable bunnies and dolls were donated to service organizations for prizes and gifts for her family until she retired from University of California, Davis.

The couple became involved with the Boat Club and often drove their old classic car down the middle of the May Fair Parade. They opened a small glass-etching company, Ideas Unique, out of their garage and became heavily involved with the Dixon Chamber of Commerce. 

Many of those friends and many of their 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren surrounded them at the 67th anniversary celebration. 

“No one in this community would doubt our love for each other,” Rich Hardy said.