Bill and Linda Epperson of Ponca City will celebrate a milestone wedding anniversary on March 23, marking 50 years since they started a life together in the community where they’d raise a family and build many friendships that will last a lifetime.

The couple were married in 1973 and have called this area home for most of their lives.

They raised two sons, Jamie and Shaun, in Ponca City.

Bill, a longtime employee of Oklahoma Gas & Electric, retired as an operator at the Sooner power plant. The former Linda Baughman held several jobs in the area over the years, including teaching Sunday school classes and working at Woodlands Elementary School.

The couple have long enjoyed traveling and taking family vacations and love nothing more than spending time with grandchildren Hannah and Carter.