MELVIN & ROBERTA HARTER
Roberta and Melvin met at the Church of God in Circleville, Ohio when they were both 17 years old. At the beginning, Melvin nor Roberta had any thoughts of each other even though both were in the same Sunday School class. Both were committed to Christ and simply were doing what they could to reach others for Jesus Christ.
One Sunday morning, Melvin's mother was telling Roberta about her son Ronnie. Melvin happened to walk across the front of the church and Roberta immediately asked, "Who is he?" Melvin's mother said, "That is my other son, Melvin." From that moment on, Roberta began to fall in love with Melvin. Of course, Melvin took note how pretty Roberta was as well.
Melvin would often go to the hospitals and pray for the sick. Roberta happened to be in the Berger Hospital in Circleville, Ohio and had surgery removing her appendics. At this time, Roberta was engaged to another man who lived in Darbydale, however, he did not attend church nor did he confess to be a Christian. Melvin prayed for Roberta's healing and then prepared to leave. Roberta got out of her bed and proceeded to walk Melvin to the door. At the door, Roberta was faint and began to fall to the floor. Melvin immediately caught her in his arms and assisted her back to her bed. When Melvin put his hands around Roberta and helping her back to her bed, he began to think how pretty she was and how fragile. Leaving the hospital that afternoon, Melvin passed Roberta's fiance in the hallway.
Roberta returned her engagement ring to her fiance and informed him that any plans of marriage was over. Melvin had purchased a 1955 Chevy and worked at a small grocery store in Circleville. One winter day, his car slid into a guard rail. The insurance company paid him $150 for the damages, which consisted of a new fender. However, Melvin had located another 1955 Chevy that belonged to a soldier. The car had red bucket seats, a shining new coat of silver paint, and a hearst shifter on the floor. The price was $150. Melvin took his insurance money and purchased the car.
During this time, Roberta did not know how to drive. Melvin asked her if she would like for him to show her? They drove out to an old gravel road and Melvin began to teach Roberta how to drive a standard shift car. Often times they would nearly go into the ditch, the result of their laughter.
Both Roberta and Melvin enjoyed each other's company and realized they had the same spiritual value system. Soon they fell in love with each other.
Melvin & Roberta dates usually comprised of attending some revival service somewhere, or singing at some radio station. One day Melvin took Roberta to meet his grandparents on his mother's side. This is the one Melvin called, "Gramps." Gramps asked Roberta if she played any musical instruments? When she stated she did not, old Gramps replied, "You will never fit in this family then." Of course, he was having fun with Roberta and teasing her because Grandma said, "Don't pay any attention to him."
One evening after leaving a church service in Columbus, Ohio, Melvin and Roberta stopped by a BBF. BBF means "Burger Boy Food-A-Rama." Roberta enjoyed hamburgers and chocolate milkshakes.
Melvin borrowed some of Roberta's tithe money and purchased hamburgers and a chocolate milkshake for Roberta. As Melvin proceeded to back up his car, he suddenly hit a large utility pole. Roberta's hamburger and milkshake was gone. When Roberta looked down, she thought that blood was all over her when in acutality it was simply the chocolate milkshake. She was seating on her hambuger and it was flatter than a pancake.
Melvin knew he could not return Roberta home in that condition, so he took her to his grandparents' house. There, Roberta was able to change her blouse and put on one of Melvin's shirts that was there. When Melvin returned Roberta to her home, Roberta's mother immediately noticed that Roberta was not wearing her blouse. She exclaimed, "What happen to your clothes?" Both Melvin and Roberta had to do a lot of explaining to Brother and Sister Wheeler that night.
