I DO On September 6 1958 Lyle Traxler and Delores Haines exchanged vows at St Paul United Methodist
By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
Commemorating their 65th wedding anniversary, Lyle and Delores Traxler share an extraordinary story of love, faith, and family.
Guided by their steadfast faith, their journey led to a household overflowing with love, encompassing not just their biological and adopted children, but also the many foster children they warmly welcomed into their home.
Lyle, the son of Adam and Mildred Traxler, and Delores, the daughter of Lester and Louise Haines both grew up in Montpelier.
Lyle lived within the village limits while Delores was raised on the family farm southwest of town.
Growing up together in the same grade at Montpelier School, the two had crossed paths many times during their formative years. It was their sophomore year in high school when the two took special notice of one another.
Both Lyle and Delores were in the high school band; Lyle played the trumpet while Delores served on the percussion line playing the bells.
Prior to their first away game of the season against Defiance, the band members assembled in the band room for some last-minute instructions before boarding the school bus. As they made their way to the bus, the two teens found themselves walking together.
Lyle remembers, “On the way to the bus, she happened to be beside me and said to me ‘Save me a seat, I’ve got to get something to eat.’ The only seat left on the bus was next to me. That was the beginning…the beginning of our sophomore year.”
From then on, the teens dated throughout high school and during their senior year decided that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.
Following graduation in 1958, Lyle enlisted in the Army Reserve and traveled to Fort Knox to begin his basic training while Delores stayed back in Ohio.
In the early fall, Lyle came home on leave from the military, and on September 6, 1958, Lyle Traxler and Delores Haines exchanged vows at St. Paul United Methodist with Rev. Leroy J. Rhadeback officiating the nuptials.
Lyle was required to return to Fort Knox to finish his training immediately after their wedding. However, with training complete in December, he returned home to Montpelier where he and Delores set up their first home together in a little apartment.
After about a year, the Traxlers moved 25 minutes away to Edgerton – the town they called home for 33 years and where they raised their children Kyle, Karla, and Kevin.
Once settled in Edgerton, Lyle took a position at a small tool and die shop which kicked off his career in machining and engineering. He also remained active in the Army Reserve for six years and helped Delores’ father on the farm.
Delores on the other hand, focused her time creating a nurturing home for their three children. She also taught piano lessons and served as an organist for multiple churches and funeral homes.
In the mid-1960s, the Traxlers made a decision that would forever change the trajectory of their lives. It all began around the holidays when Lyle and Delores decided to open their home to a little girl living at the Defiance Children’s Home who didn’t have a family to spend Christmas with.
The Traxler family including their three children thoroughly enjoyed hosting her for the holiday season.
A few months after the experience, Delores shared with her husband that she wanted to help other children who didn’t have their own families.
By 1967 the Traxlers were officially licensed as foster parents through both Defiance and Paulding counties.
Lyle recalls that Delores was the driving force behind the couple’s decision to become a foster family. “It was all for her heart and love for others,” he shared.
Over the years Lyle and Delores shared their home and their hearts with many children in need on a temporary basis.
They had the opportunity to foster a group of three biological brothers: Sean, Marc, and Chris, and eventually adopted the boys in 1977.
It was not uncommon to have at least two foster children in the home in addition to the now six Traxler children.
Lyle recalls that for the most part, their new guests fit right in and the whole family pitched in to make the household run as smoothly as possible.
One of the children who stayed with the Traxlers was an infant known only as “Baby Angel.” Named by nurses at the hospital, the baby girl was found abandoned in a cornfield and brought to the Traxler home until she could be adopted by her forever family.
“We were blessed to have that baby until she got through the court system,” Lyle remembers. According to Delores’ records, over the years, the Traxlers shared their home with 69 foster children.
In 1992, with their biological and adopted children now grown, Lyle and Delores relocated to Auburn, Indiana, bringing their fostering journey to a close. However, fate had a different plan in store.
They received an unexpected call from a caseworker in Defiance, informing them that one of their former foster sons was once again in need of a family.
Without hesitation, Lyle and Delores opened their hearts and home to him. In 1995, Jimmy officially became a member of the Traxler family through adoption.
In 2004, the Traxlers returned to Ohio, this time moving back to their hometown of Montpelier just down the road from where Delores grew up.
They built a small home and shop on a piece of land that Lyle had helped his father-in-law farm years earlier.
At the beginning of their golden years of retirement, Delores continued to teach piano and play the organ at churches and funerals while Lyle spent time in his special shop.
Unfortunately, in 2019, Delores received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, and her cognitive health rapidly declined about a year ago. Since then, Lyle has taken on the role of her dedicated caregiver.
Despite the fact that Lyle and Delores’ everyday life looks different now, it is evident that the couple is just as much in love now as the day they got married.
Lyle lovingly and patiently guides Delores through her daily tasks. While verbal communication between the two is more challenging, they spend a lot of time at home listening to Gospel music which gives her comfort and peace.
When not enjoying time at home, the couple spends many hours at the Senior Center taking part in the activities they have to offer. The Traxlers also make a point to attend church as often as they can.
Lyle shares that he and Delores are not navigating the challenges of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis alone. His children help whenever they can and those who live out of state are always sending prayers and frozen meals.
“God is sufficient, and I have excellent family support,” shared Lyle with a smile. “Dad is spoiled rotten.”
The Traxlers are the parents of seven children: Kyle (Kathy) Traxler, Karla (Duane) Mabee, Marc (Amy) Traxler, Chris Traxler, Jimmy (Sjvaun) Traxler, Kevin Traxler (Deceased) and Sean Traxler (Deceased). They have 15 grandchildren, two of whom are deceased, and 14 great-grandchildren.
After 65 years of marriage, the Traxlers have accumulated a wealth of strategies for sustaining a healthy and enduring relationship.
Lyle says he and his wife would never go to bed angry. By talking things out they handled many challenges. Above all, one marriage tip that Lyle shared stands out above the rest.
“Faith – there’s just no other way to explain it,” Lyle offered. Though Delores was unable to verbally communicate, Lyle added on behalf of his wife, “…And a relationship with the Lord.
With God’s grace – we both truly feel that way. All of our lives have been God-arranged.”
For 65 years, Lyle and Delores Traxler’s enduring marriage has exemplified a love that they generously shared, not only with each other but also with their family and other children in need.
Handling every situation with profound love and compassion they aimed to carefully lead each of their children, whether it be their own or their foster children, towards a path that would best prepare them for life.
Amy can be reached at amy@thevillagereporter.com
