Lieutenant Willard Raymond grew up in Duluth. Grace MacMartin lived in Edina’s country club district. They might never have met except for a series of fortunate circumstances that began when a friend told him he had to meet this very special girl.
You’ve no doubt heard plenty of blind-date stories, but this date relied on more luck than just a friend deciding that two people he knew might make a great couple.
Just before his date with Grace, Bill was flying into Minneapolis, where he was training as a naval pilot during World War II. Unfortunately, he had problems with his plane, missed the airport and was stranded in a farmer’s field in the middle of nowhere (around today’s 66th Street in Richfield). He was sure he’d miss the date, and then Grace would surely think he stood her up. Bill was afraid he wouldn’t get a second chance.
Then, of all things, a chauffeured limousine drove up.
A woman rolled down the window and asked if he wanted a ride—and Bill arrived to the date on time and in style.
The dashing pilot and his date married in 1944, and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond had more than 67 happy years together before their deaths, less than three months apart, last year.
Read the Edina Historical Society blog for more great stories about Edina people and places.
