GREENVILLE – Rita and Gary Rismiller were treated to a surprise 50th Wedding Anniversary party at their home on US Route 127 south while working the world’s longest garage sale.

April Brubaker stopped at the Rismiller’s garage sale while garage sailing Thursday when their son mentioned his parent’s 50th wedding anniversary would be the next day.

“I thought that is so sweet so I talked to them about their 50th wedding anniversary and how they met,” Brubaker said of the couple she did not know. “Mrs. Rismiller said they spend their wedding anniversary doing this since about 2000.”

April and the Rismiller’s struck up a conversation setting the stage for April’s Friday surprise. Brubaker is the Executive Director of Main Street Greenville and owner of Unique Treasures and Vintage Prop Rentals (aprilbrew@gmail.com) and provided all the specialties needed for the event.

“April was walking thru here and I asked her, ‘you know we’ve been married 50 years tomorrow,’” Gary said. “She stopped and looked at me and started talking. I told her where we were married.”

The Greenville couple was married August 4, 1973 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church located in Willowdell, OH.

Brubaker showed up Friday morning at the Rismiller’s garage sale with an anniversary cake, nicely decorated cupcakes and fancy “stuff” for all garage sale enthusiasts to enjoy while helping the local couple enjoy their special day.

“We have done this for so many years, ever since we have been married,” Rita said. “It’s just another day. We can celebrate another day when this is all over with.”

The couple has three sons, Brian, Robert and Matthew and six grandchildren.

“We have six grandchildren and we love them all,” Rita stated. “Brian has four children – we have two new twin babies – two days after Christmas last year. Matthew has two children and Robert is not married.”