Ethel and Melvn Weaver are shown in their home on North Huntington Street next to a lamp Melvin made after they moved to the home 20 years ago. The duck lamp fits right in with Ethel’s collection of ducks. The Weavers began as bus drivers for Syracuse School before the consolidation of the Lakeland School Corporation, now Wawasee Community School Corporation. Melvin Weaver drove a bus for 31 years, and Ethel drove a bus for 39 years

SYRACUSE — Many may know Melvin and Ethel Weaver, Syracuse, as the individuals who were responsible for taking them, or their children, to and from school for more than 30 years. Others may know the couple for the sharing of garden produce, as a welder, a woodworker, a collector of ducks, quilter or embroiderer.

The couple have been around Syracuse most of their lives. Melvin moved here in his early 20s. The former Ethel Denton moved to Syracuse in the eighth grade. They were married 62 years ago after meeting at a revival at the former Zion Chapel church. “I didn’t know I was going to meet my husband,” Ethel said about attending the revival. Melvin, who was living with his aunt and uncle in Columbia City, had come to live with Sherman and Mosceline Deaton, after doing welding work for them.

“We’ve always farmed for ourselves,” said Ethel. “We always had some kind of animal.” The couple first lived near the Tri-County Game Preserve on CR 900N. They had eight or nine Morgan horses they raised, which their children showed in 4-H. They heard of a need by Maple Leaf Farms to raise ducklings. They purchased 18 acres on CR 1000N and built a home, where they raised 200,000 ducklings a year from three weeks of age until seven weeks. Finally it became too much and they left the duck raising business after 27 years. But that wasn’t the end of raising animals. One day Melvin went to an auction and purchased three runt piglets. The idea was to sell two and butcher one for themselves.

But the gilts grew to be too nice to butcher. A boar was borrowed from a neighbor and the hog farming began. They raised 80 head of sows until moving to their North Huntington Street home 20 years ago.

Melvin became a bus driver for then Syracuse Schools around 1958. He continued driving when Syracuse became part of the Lakeland School Corp. and then Wawasee Community School Corp. He retired after 31 years, at the age of 62. But that wasn’t because of his age. It was because his part time job with Indiana Restaurant Equipment as a truck driver became a full time job.

During the years Melvin was driving a bus, he had wanted his wife to be his substitute driver. Finally she got her license and he taught her to drive a school bus. She started driving full time in 1973 and drove for 39 years, retiring five years ago when she turned 80. Her bus was No. 39. His was No. 25. “When I first started my bus was 33,” Ethel stated. “When he first started his bus was No. 4. We had all 12 grades when we first started.” At one time when the routes were changed due to overcrowding at Syracuse, she was able to keep a route with “her kids” she had been taking to school. Before she retired one of Ethel’s passengers was one of her great-grandchildren.

But Melvin’s trade wasn’t a farmer or a bus driver. He was a welder, a trade he learned while living in Columbia City. On their farm on CR 900N, he had his own welding shop in an old chicken house. A larger building was later built, where he welded ornamental railings and worked on farm equipment. “Farmers didn’t have welders then,” Ethel said. Melvin recalls having combines lined up the road waiting for welding to be done. Because his welding was in demand, he would often need a break.

It wasn’t unusual for him to tell Ethel to get the kids read and the camper packed. They were going away for the weekend. While most of his welding took place at their home on CR 900N, he carried his welding equipment to their new farm and in the move to their current home. “He still welds for a few people that he knows,” Ethel said.

Since moving into Syracuse, Melvin has taken up woodworking. A number of shelves, a lamp and other items can be seen around the home as a result of his handiwork. Ethel gardens and makes quilts, embroiders and crochets. She sells some of her creations and the excess from her garden each year. She also collects statues, artwork and other items relating to ducks. She said it all started with finding paneling for their living room with scenes of ducks. Now she has a collection of a variety of ducks, none she said are very expensive as she has picked them up at garage sales and auctions.

The couple just celebrated a special occasion, Melvin’s 90th birthday with an open house and in April they will celebrate 63 years of marriage. “And we’re still in love,” Ethel said. Melvin said he’s working toward his 100th birthday.

The Weavers have three children: Janet, Gary and Ken, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren with number 11 on its way.