At only fourteen years old, an outgoing Charlotte made a casual invitation to Bert and his friend to join in on a Scavenger Hunt hosted by the Methodist Youth Fellowship in Placerville, California. They knew each other from High School, but this fateful night seemed to kick start a romance between the teens. Even though they each split off into different groups during the hunt, Bert joining an all-boys team and Charlotte sticking with the girls, the pair still refer to this night as their first date. The game called for the teams to gather a number of zany objects. Charlotte laughed as she relived the night with Bert, “Remember your team brought back a cat?” Bert chuckled as he replied, “Oh yeah, there was a whole long list of things we were supposed to get.”
Charlotte described Bert as being bashful which may be why their next date was to the Sadie Hawkins Dance, an event where the girls famously ask the boys. The next big ask, however, would come from Bert. The night he proposed, he presented her with the same ring she wears today.
The couple married on January 30, 1948, over 76 years ago becoming Mr. and Mrs. Bert and Charlotte Carpender. Today, the pair boasts of two children, nine grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. Together they have enjoyed many great adventures in life, many with a fifth wheel in tow.
While it likely wasn’t on the list for the scavenger hunt that night, it seems Bert and Charlotte each found the most valuable item of the evening, true love.
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