Old car and fifty year marriage both keep on ticking
by Jennifer Kneuss
August 5, 2013
359
Summary: When Elden Maurer purchased a decrepit dual cowel Phiaton Packard in the 1960s, he likely never dreamed that the restored car would be featured on his own 50th wedding anniversary in 1978 as well as his son and daughter-in-laws 50th anniversary in 2013.
Elden and Mary Maurer were married in 1928, and the couple was known not only for their popular New Philadelphia Maurers Nursery business, but also for Eldens affinity for tinkering with cars. Their son, Wade, inherited his fathers passion as well as one of his cars, a 1931 dual cowel Phfiaton Packard.
Elden and Mary were featured with the Packard on the cover of a local newspaper section on Sept. 30, 1978, as they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Now, in 2013, Wade and his wife, the former Betty Ager, are celebrating their own fiftieth anniversary on Aug. 10. The Packard is looking as shiny as ever in a photo recreating that 1978 picture.
Wade and Betty have four children and eight grandchildren. Through the years, the couple and their family members have been a common sight in many local parades as they wave from the restored vehicle.
We have even had it in two or three Hall of Fame parades over the years, explained Wade. But to do that, we had to get up at 6 AM to get in the parade lineup, and the long parade was kind of hard on the car, too. The Packard has also been popular with wedding parties who use it to transport the newlyweds from the church to reception location.
Dad restored this car back in the late 60s. It came pretty much as a basket case. He bought it from Arizona, sight unseen, in trade for three old cars he had. When it was delivered, Mom took one look at the horrible condition it was in and quickly changed the deal to a trade of only two cars. The body was fine, but there was chicken wire all around the inside. Whoever owned it had obviously kept small animals inside, and the interior was a wreck. When Dad saw it, he was glad that Mom had put her foot down.
The Packards engine was restored by a man in Massillon, and the interior was restored by a gentleman who had actually worked in the factory that had originally installed the Packard interiors, so he knew exactly what to do. Pauls Body Shop in Dover did the paint job. The car now has about 40,000 original miles on it, and the Maurers only put about 100-200 miles on the engine every year.
We dont go out and race around, said Maurer of the car, which has a top speed of about 65 mph, But we do enjoy riding in it.
Wades fascination for old cars is evident in his collection, and he also collects model trains, including a working model that runs along a track near the ceiling of their Crooked Run Road New Philadelphia home, going from room to room via small tunnels cut out of the walls. Betty is a prolific crochet enthusiast, and is active in Tuscarawas County Homemakers Club. At 71, she is retired from St. Johns UM church as a secretary, and Wade, 69, worked for many years as a long distance truck driver, although he now works at Dover Chemical.
The secret to a long lasting car as well as a long lasting marriage, according to Wade? Take good care of the car, and service it regularly. As to the marriage, say Yes, Dear. Whatever you want, Dear. He admits that Bettys advice on the marriage side might be a little different. She would probably say that the secret is having a husband who worked as a long distance truck driver, he chuckled.
