Hide Article Text (OCR)
Identical Twins Celebrate 80th BirthdayBy Evelyn ComerStaff Wrixer For 80 years they' have looked alike, talked alike, thought alike and worked alike. Even their names are almost alike—Minnie Belle and Mamie Dell.AU of which is quite logical, since they are the identical twin daughters of the late Napoleon Bonapart Wells and Ar-denia Cornelia Arthur Wells of Hush Creek. Today they will celebrate their 80th birthdays, an unusual achievement for twins.On Sunday the two were honor guests at an open house held in the home of their great-niece. Mrs. William R. Hudnall of Marmet, with her sister-in-law. Mrs. Patrick Casey, assisting with arrangements.In spite of their many similarities, Mrs. Minnie Belle Ingles, who resides in Marmet, and Mrs. Mamie Dell Fout, who lives at Cedar Grove, have spent most of their lives apart.Born on Rush Creek, they' were the youngest of 12 children in the family. When they were three years oid, their mother died, and their father was killed when they were eight. The children stayed together. with the older ones caring for the little girls.This went on until the twins were 14. At that time*- the oldest sister married and wanted to take the twins to live with her. Mamie went, but Minnie elected to stay in the home with the oldest brother and his wife. And from that point their lives took vastly different courses.MAMIE MARRIED John P. Fout, a railroad engineer, and in September they will celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary. They had 11 children, nine of whom are living, and only one is still at home. They also have 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.At 80, Mamie—who is reported to be five minutes old-er than her twin sister—uses glasses only for reading,sewing or other close work, and she still does ail her own housework. She is considered an excellent cook, and her children describe her chocolate brownis as “out of this world.” She also enjoys wotting in her flower garden and making floati arrangements for her home.Mamie had been married 11 years before Minnie married Rush B. Ingles Si years ago. She now has been a widow for 13 years. Although she always loved children, she never was blessed with motherhood, yet she has “mothered” about a dozen youngsters — three of them who were motherless, a^d nine others who staped with her while their mothers worked.In addition to these duties, Mrs. Ingles has had an extensive business career, which began during World War I, when she made boxes for packing explosive powder in a plant at Nitro. She also worked seven years in the old Dunbar Glass Plant, and packed bottles into cartons for U years at Owens-Illinois Glass Co.Now retired and living alone, she enjoys reading, television, sewing, crocheting, quilting and going to church. She is a member of the Marmet First Baptist Church, as was her late husband.SHE ALSO visits frequently with Mamie, sometimes staying for a week, or with their other sister, Mrs. Julia Smith in South Charleston, or their one living brother, James Wells on Rush Creek. In addition, there are plenty of nieces and great-nieces,when she has the urge to visit someone.The close alliance between Mamie and Minnie, which was interrupted when they were 14, was resumed only a few years ago.“Before that, I was too busy raising my family,” Mamie said.“And I was too busy working and caring for others’ children,” Minnie added in an almost identical voice.IDENTICAL TWINS celebrating their 80th birthday today are Mrs. Mamie Dell Fout (left) of Cedar Grove and Mrs. Minnie Belle Ingles of Marmet. They werehonor guests on Sunday at an open house ! given by their great-niece, Mrs. William R. Hudnall of Marmet, and her sistor-in law, Mrs. Patrick Casey.(Staff Photo by Ferrell Friend)Belfield-Higgins Vows Exchanged ■THE BETTER HALF By Bob BarnesHUNTINGTON—Married May 22 in the Trinity Episcopal Church here were Miss Annette Elizabeth Higgins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Lovell Higgins, and Alexander Bruce Belfield III, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander B. Belfield Jr., all of Huntington.The Rev. Frederick Dennis and the Rev. Robert L. Thomas officiated and nuptial music was furnished by Mrs. Thomas Boyd, organist; andof Columbus, Ohio, was best man and ushers included Lawrence Foster of Beckley, cousin of the bride; Michael Belfield of Huntington, brother of the bridegroom; and Richard Blenko of Milton. Lou Shields was taperlighter and Thomas Humphrey was the ringbearer.A reception was held In the church parish house, after which the couple, left for t trip to Virginia and Florida.
Newspaper Details
Charleston Gazette
Charleston, West Virginia, US
Tue, Jun 08, 1971
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Kanawha C.
West Virginia, USA 11 Dec 2023
Other Publications Near Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston Mail
Charleston Gazette Mail
Charleston Gazette
Gazette Mail
Charleston Daily Mail
