Eric Toothman, Class of 1977, and wife Lori Munza Toothman, a 1975 Fairmont East graduate, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary Sunday, September 2 on an Ocean City, Maryland beach after dropping their daughter off at Columbia University in New York City.

They live in Monongah on Walnut Street, where I was born in the Walnut Street house of grandparents, Martin Olesky and Mary Peremba Olesky.

Eric wrote:

“I would like to wish my wife Lori a very happy anniversary. It takes a very special women to put up with me for 40 years. And vice versa, of course”

Eric was a coal miner from 1978 through 1995 at Martinka Mine and Federal #2 Mine, as a roof bolter. After going through Fairmont State’s Physical Therapy Assistant program, he began at the Louis A. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center in Clarksburg 20 years ago.

Lori has been with the U.S. Postal Service for 21 years, currently at the Mannington office. Previously, Lori was assistant to the Union Mission director in Fairmont. Lori grew up in Montana Mines, near Pricketts Fort, with her parents, Ava Jean Ellers Munza and the late John Munza. Erick’s parents are Frances Arretta Boner Toothman and the late Danny Lee Toothman. Frances still lives on the Parris Run family farm.

Daughter Ciara Jade, a 2014 North Marion graduate, will begin her senior year at Columbia University. Eric and Lori drove her there before heading to the beach.

Ciara’s brother is Jared Adam Toothman, who has two daughters -- Adicyn Rain and Aubri Jean – with Ashley Marie Gill.