THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: The siblings: Front row, from left, Bill Stark, 84, of rural Danville; Bob Stark, 77, of Catlin; and Jess Stark, 83, of Danville; back row, from left, Debbie Smith, 67, formerly of Ridge Farm; Sue Kunkle, 80, of Bedford, Ind.; Joy Pierce, 81, of Catlin; and Candy Wangler, 68, of Catlin (photo provided)
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DANVILLE — Most families face myriad obstacles in getting together over the holidays — distance, work obligations, financial difficulties, political differences, the effort to put it all together and emotions that come with missing those who are no longer with us.
So Bill Stark of rural Danville doesn’t take it for granted that he and his siblings and large extended family — over 100 of them — are able to meet up regularly.
One of Stark’s daughters, Vicki Watson of Oakwood, knows such big annual family gatherings are not the norm.
Watson said their reunions include 104 family members, with another little one on the way. This doesn’t include outside cousins and even more extended family, she said.
She said her 84-year-old dad, his six brothers and sisters and their families get together in the summer and the winter each year.
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