Name: Julian and Charlotte Calhoun

Parish: Member of Blessed Sacrament Church, Oakland City, for 28 years

Married, number of children: Married at Sts. Joe and Paul Church in Owensboro, Ky., on Dec. 29, 1951; six children (one deceased), eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

How did you meet? Charlotte: We met in church, after they combined St. Joe and St. Paul. I was a member of St. Paul, and he had gone to St. Joe.

Where and when were you born? Charlotte: I was born at home in Owensboro on June 15, 1930. Julian: I was born in Central City, Ky., on Oct. 23, 1928. When the Depression hit, Dad lost his job, and we moved to Owensboro and started farming.

Tell me three things about yourself that defines who you are: Charlotte: I’m the youngest of three children. I was a stay-at-home mom until my youngest child was in high school. I retired as a bookkeeper from O’Leary Law Office. Julian: I was born the third of seven children. I lived most of my early life on a farm. I’m a devoted Catholic. I managed supermarkets before my retirement.

What is your first memory of church? Charlotte: I remember the day I made my First Communion at six years of age. I was also confirmed in the afternoon of the same day. I distinctly remember the bishop tapping my cheek and calling me by my Confirmation name, “Christina.” Julian: I remember my First Communion. There were about 20-25 people who made it. When I was young, I had an aunt who was a nun, and she visited us every once in a while.

Who was your hero or someone you looked up to as a child? Charlotte: I looked up to my sister who was several years older. She was allowed to do much that I was not old enough to do. I loved to watch her put her makeup on and get ready to go out with her friends. She also took me to late Mass sometimes . . . just the two of us. When I was about 3 years old, I remember going with her to Mass and being told I couldn’t go to Communion with her because I was too young. This upset me because I thought they were giving out chewing gum! I remember being mad at her the whole way home because I didn’t get any gum! But I did look up to her and still do. Julian: My grandma and granddaddy, and also my mother. Granddaddy always wanted me to come along with him. He taught me a lot about life and how to take care of animals on the farm. Any time I had problems, my mother was always there to help me.

Who is your hero now? Charlotte: My husband, Julian, is my hero. He’s a faithful loving person who has taken good care of me all these years. Julian: I look up to my wife now. She takes care of things and did a good job of raising our children.

What are your childhood memories? Charlotte: We always had a Christmas tree with blue lights. At Easter, the colored eggs were always in Mom’s sewing basket. I also remember playing safely in the neighborhood with friends. You would go out and play, and no one worried about you. It’s a good memory. I also remember hearing the news about Pearl Harbor. We were playing softball, and Dad called us in and told us to listen to the radio because history was being made. Julian: Visiting my cousins who lived in the country. We’d swim in the pond and ride their horses.

What are your memories of the Great Depression? Charlotte: We never thought of ourselves as poor, although we were. Dad’s place of work closed down, but he was able to get work with the city of Owensboro. We were lucky. Dad had a huge garden and Mom canned food. We had a cow that gave us plenty of dairy products. Mom sewed our clothes and made patchwork quilts from upholstery pieces left over from the furniture factory where Dad had worked. As I look back, I’m amazed at how much Mom and Dad shared what we had with others not as fortunate. Julian: Moving to the farm, where we raised all our food and vegetables. With the neighbors, we used to kill hogs for food for the year. Dad had a car but couldn’t afford the gas to drive it.

Where was your first job? Charlotte: At Walgreens' soda fountain. I made 15 cents an hour, plus tips. A dime was a really swell tip. I worked with my favorite cousin, Dorothy. We were the same age. Julian: Delivering groceries for a grocery store. I worked there before and after school and all day on Saturday and got paid $6 a week.

What are you or have you been involved with at your parish? Charlotte: I’m a Pro-Life coordinator. My husband helps me with that. I am a member of the Right to Life groups in Vanderburgh County and Gibson County, as well as Indiana Right to Life. I taught CCD for 23 years. I’m a Eucharistic minister. I minister to the nursing home and homebound parishioners. I am a past church council member, and am involved with the Blessed Sacrament Women’s Club and the parish food pantry team. My husband and I were inducted in to the Brute Society, and we have both made Cursillos. Julian: I’ve been a church council member, usher, and a Eucharistic minister. I also take Communion to the sick.

What do you like most about being Catholic? Charlotte: I like the spirituality of going to Catholic Mass and worshipping God through the reception of the Eucharist. God is always there for me. Our Catholic religion is not a shallow religion, but deep and meaningful. Julian: It has a leader — Pope John Paul II — and gives you a code of commandments to live by. When you talk to the Lord, it helps you get by in the world.

What is your favorite religious item? Charlotte: I have an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Julian: The rosary and the “four-way” medal I carry in my pocket.

Have you ever experienced a miracle or God’s intervention in your life? Charlotte: I feel that God did intervene when two of our children were born. Once he saved our child, and once he saved our child and me. Julian: When I was in the Korean War, and all those bombs and mortar shells were hitting all around me, I asked the Lord to take care of me. I served in Korea for 21 months. Our four-man mortar unit had three men killed by in-coming fire, but I survived. I had wounds and was flown to a field hospital in a box on the outside of a helicopter (just like the TV show “MASH”),

What’s the best advice you can give someone else? Charlotte: Have faith, stay close to your religion, and God will sustain you in rough times and smooth times. Above all, put your trust in God and tell him that you trust Him. Julian: Stay close to God. Keep your daily prayers, ask God for help often, and thank Him for His help.