Judith Odessa and Carl Richard Bowman of Wheeling celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, Aug. 21.

They were united in marriage Aug. 21, 1965, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Elm Grove, Wheeling, with the Rev. Harold C. Rust officiating.

Judy Bowman is the daughter of the late Henry and Odessa Broemsen of Wheeling. She graduated from Triadelphia High School in 1961 and from West Virginia University with an undergraduate degree in secondary education in 1965 and a master’s degree in 1972. She is retired from Ohio County Schools after 48 years of substitute and full-time teaching.

Carl Bowman is the son of the late Paul E. and Anne E. Bowman of Greensburg, Pa. He graduated from Hempfield Area High School in 1960, attended Thiel College in Greenville for two years and graduated from West Virginia University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry and wood industry. He was a member of the track and field teams at both colleges.

He received a master’s degree in education from WVU in 1974 and retired from Ohio County Schools, where he worked as a teacher, media specialist, technology coordinator and coach.

They are the parents of two children, Jeffrey A. Bowman of Seattle, Wash., and Pamela B. Sundbeck of Chester, Va.

The couple is celebrating today with a luncheon hosted by their children at St. Mark Lutheran Church with family and friends. Music is being provided by Leslie Garrett and the Rev. R. Paul Schafer.