Grotes celebrate 50th anniversary

William A. G. and Sylvia Jane Spencer Grote of Fenton, St. Louis County are celebrating their 50th anniversary.

Sylvia was born and raised in Poplar Bluff, William is from Pittsfield, illinois.

An at-home celebration with family was scheduled for March 2020, but was postponed due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. They plan to reschedule when possible. The couple will host a family celebration. During the Covid-19 quarantine, William took the formal 50th Anniversary portrait at home with a tripod and camera with a timer.

Their children are David B (Dr. Heather J.) Grote of Rockville, Maryland, and Katherine A. (Dr. Dirk C.) Jordan of Golden, Colorado. They have seven grandchildren.

The couple was married Feb. 7, 1970, at First Congregational Church in Clayton, St. Louis County, Missouri. Sylvia is the daughter of Byron H. and Katherine May (Reed) Spencer of Poplar Bluff, and the granddaughter of L. A. and Susie (Turner) Reed of Poplar Bluff.

William is retired from Monsanto Company (now Bayer) in Creve Coeur, Missouri, and Sylvia is retired from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Sylvia has been active in Olde Towne Fenton Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and Missouri Mayflower Society, William is eastern district commander of the Missouri Society of Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard.