♥ Arthur & Adelaide ♥
This wedding photo was submitted to The 1940s Experience by their daughter-in-law and my friend, Angela!
Our 20 year-old bride came to the United States from Vienna, Austria when she was two with her brother and, like most immigrants, the family was poor. The 25 year-old groom's family was quite wealthy (like housekeeper and cook wealthy) before the Great Depression.
The son of Italian immigrants, the tall, dark and handsome, Arthur DeThomas fell in love with the stunning Austrian beauty Adelaide (Adelheid) Stocker. However, the groom's parents never accepted his choice of bride because she wasn't Italian - but that didn't stop the lovebirds ... not one bit!
Here they are on their wedding day February 17, 1942 in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
Arthur entered WWII military service in November 1942 and was a scout for the tank units that liberated Italy.
They had 13 children and were married a glorious 44 years.
I love this photo for so many reasons. Firstly, they are a beautiful couple who defied the obstacles to their romance and second it is quintessentially early 1940s depiction. And I just love the proud expression on his face, supremely calm but a bit of "Ha! I love her! She is now my wife - so there!"
Thank you so much, Angela and Joe for sharing the love story of your parents!