MARRIED 50 YEARS: FRED & ROSE DARIAN AND RALPH & LOUISE GARABEDIAN.

Family and friends gathered at the Calabasas Inn Aug. 17 to join in a special celebration as Ralph and Louise Garabedian of Woodland Hills and Ralph's sister, Rose Darian, and her husband, Fred, of Studio City, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries.

More than 150 loved ones attended the dinner celebration. Guests enjoyed American and traditional Armenian music. Family members shared memories of the two couples' lives together.

Ralph and Louise met in February 1949 at the Odd Fellows Hall in Los Angeles. They dated for two years and married Aug. 4, 1951 at Holy Cross Armenian Church in Los Angeles.

Louise, a Los Angeles native, graduated form George Washington High School in 1943. She worked at the Credit Bureau for some time and sold jewelry for Nat Halpern & Co. for more than 10 years.

Ralph was born in Huntington Park and studied at North Hollywood High School, also graduating in 1943. He joined the Army and trained as a combat engineer. He developed an interest in photography while stationed in the Philippines, and it became a lifetime hobby. Upon his return, Ralph began working in the family trucking and hauling business, A.M. Karabetian and Sons, which he now runs.

Ralph and Louise are active members of their church. They have lived in Woodland Hills for the past seven years. For the first 43 years of their marriage, the Garabedians lived in Studio City.

Although the Garabedians have no children, they are very close to their many nieces and nephews.

Fred and Rose met in 1947 and dated for four years before marrying Sept. 12, 1951, at the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas.

Rose was born in Glendale and graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1944. She attended business school after graduating. She co-owned a dance studio in La Mirada in 1954. In 1959, she began working for Crocker National Bank as a switchboard operator, working her way up to manager of the Beverly Hills branch. She retired in 1981.

Fred was born in Detroit and graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn, Mich. He studied at the Detroit Conservatory of Music before joining the Army. During his service, he became part of special services, where he entertained troops as a singer. When he completed his service, Fred studied at the New York Opera Lab. He later studied at L.A. City College while working at a restaurant he owned. He became Choir Director at Holy Cross Armenian Church, where his wife also sang. He worked in the music business for many years. He produced and sang the original arrangement of ``Jezebel,'' and received two gold records for producing ``Mr. Custer'' and ``The In Crowd.'' He also worked as a professional singer. Since 1971 Fred has worked as a real estate agent.

The Darians have three children; Carolon Nigosian of Indian Wells, and Sharon Panish and Susan Boranian both of Woodland Hills. They have eight grandchildren.

The Darians and the Garabedians have enjoyed sharing their lives together for the past 50 years. They have spent many social events together and have traveled together. They renewed their vows together during their 25th anniversaries and celebrated together again 25 years later.

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Ralph and Louise Garabedian, left, and Rose and Fred Darian celebrated their 50th anniversaries together Aug. 17.