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Wanda (Rich) and Don Baggett, pictured, of Nevada City celebrated 50 years of marriage on Jan. 31.
The couple met in church, “really, at 10 years old,” Don Baggett said. They “weren’t in the same town, but had the same common faith. A strong point in the longevity of your marriage is your common faith.”
Wanda Baggett concurred.
“I’m not sure if having a common background is as important as a common faith,” she added.
They began dating when they were seniors in high school. During college, they saw each other on weekends, in the summer and during holidays.
Don Baggett graduated from San Francisco State College with a degree in music in 1959. Wanda graduated from Chico State College with a general elementary education degree. They were married in Yuba City right after graduation.
They moved to Nevada County in 1960, where most of their careers unfolded and where their sons Jeff, Rod, Paul and John Baggett all were born. They have four daughters-in-law and eight grandchildren.
Wanda Baggett taught at Hennessy School in Grass Valley for 23 years, Grass Valley Charter School for five years post-retirement, and Sierra Christian School for two years, where she was the interim principal.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Grass Valley for 48 years, where she taught Sunday School 40 of those years. She was involved with the Nevada Union High School Choir Boosters. She traveled abroad with the choir as wife of the director and chaperone for eight trips abroad and one to Mexico.
Don Baggett taught choral music at Nevada Union for 36 years full time, and then taught two classes with his son, Rod Baggett, for five years after retirement. He was music minister at First Baptist Church for more than 25 years. He took music students abroad every other year since 1978 to spread friendship through music.
He was honored when they named the NU theater for him. He still substitutes for his son and plays in the church orchestra.
“They thought I was dying,” Don Baggett joked about the theater naming. “It was almost embarrassing. I really appreciated that kind of respect, but also, how many people get buildings named after them when they are still alive?”
A secret for making marriage work? “Commitment,” according to both Wanda and Don Baggett.
“When we made a commitment, we had a view of this as a lifetime thing, so it helps you to overlook faults and little trivial things and prioritize,” Wanda Baggett said. “We enjoy each other, even at this point!”
“Common respect for each other,” Don Baggett added. “We admire each other’s strength and have respect for those things that are different about us.”
The couple celebrated on Dec. 21, 2008, with more than 200 guests at their church. They celebrated early for their children to be home for the Christmas holidays.
The couple’s sons and their wives hosted the event, which was catered by Bonnie Marin. Gold and burgundy decorations were provided by Barbara Johnson. Photos were taken by friends, the Johnson family. Their sons provided a musical and spoken tribute to them, which included a quartet by the sons and a trombone duet with Don and his grandson, Antoine.
The couple met in church, “really, at 10 years old,” Don Baggett said. They “weren’t in the same town, but had the same common faith. A strong point in the longevity of your marriage is your common faith.”
Wanda Baggett concurred.
“I’m not sure if having a common background is as important as a common faith,” she added.
They began dating when they were seniors in high school. During college, they saw each other on weekends, in the summer and during holidays.
Don Baggett graduated from San Francisco State College with a degree in music in 1959. Wanda graduated from Chico State College with a general elementary education degree. They were married in Yuba City right after graduation.
They moved to Nevada County in 1960, where most of their careers unfolded and where their sons Jeff, Rod, Paul and John Baggett all were born. They have four daughters-in-law and eight grandchildren.
Wanda Baggett taught at Hennessy School in Grass Valley for 23 years, Grass Valley Charter School for five years post-retirement, and Sierra Christian School for two years, where she was the interim principal.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Grass Valley for 48 years, where she taught Sunday School 40 of those years. She was involved with the Nevada Union High School Choir Boosters. She traveled abroad with the choir as wife of the director and chaperone for eight trips abroad and one to Mexico.
Don Baggett taught choral music at Nevada Union for 36 years full time, and then taught two classes with his son, Rod Baggett, for five years after retirement. He was music minister at First Baptist Church for more than 25 years. He took music students abroad every other year since 1978 to spread friendship through music.
He was honored when they named the NU theater for him. He still substitutes for his son and plays in the church orchestra.
“They thought I was dying,” Don Baggett joked about the theater naming. “It was almost embarrassing. I really appreciated that kind of respect, but also, how many people get buildings named after them when they are still alive?”
A secret for making marriage work? “Commitment,” according to both Wanda and Don Baggett.
“When we made a commitment, we had a view of this as a lifetime thing, so it helps you to overlook faults and little trivial things and prioritize,” Wanda Baggett said. “We enjoy each other, even at this point!”
“Common respect for each other,” Don Baggett added. “We admire each other’s strength and have respect for those things that are different about us.”
The couple celebrated on Dec. 21, 2008, with more than 200 guests at their church. They celebrated early for their children to be home for the Christmas holidays.
The couple’s sons and their wives hosted the event, which was catered by Bonnie Marin. Gold and burgundy decorations were provided by Barbara Johnson. Photos were taken by friends, the Johnson family. Their sons provided a musical and spoken tribute to them, which included a quartet by the sons and a trombone duet with Don and his grandson, Antoine.
