ENDLESS LOVE COUPLES STILL SWEETHEARTS AFTER 50-PLUS YEARS.Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - Wayne Dean was just 12 years old, sitting with his cousin in a schoolroom in Stillwater, Okla., when a new girl, Colleen col·leen n. An Irish girl. [Irish Gaelic cailín, diminutive of caile, girl, from Old Irish. , trotted in on a pair of riding boots. ``My cousin was sitting behind (me) in the seat, and I told him as the girl was walking up the aisle - I told him that's the girl I was going to marry,'' said Dean, now 78. The same Colleen, his wife for the past 60 years, sat next to him. ``He was tall and handsome, and I like boys with dark hair,'' Colleen Dean, 79, said. ``He's lost his hair, but it's still all right.'' Their love and partnership endured World War II, a cross-country move to California and the trials of children and now grandchildren. It was a familiar story Monday at HomeTown Buffet HomeTown Buffet is a buffet-style, sit-down restaurant chain headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota with locations throughout the United States. Its wide selection of food include pizza, hot dogs, hot wings, sliced ham among many others. at Valencia, where a dozen couples married for at least 50 years enjoyed a free lunch Valentine's Day Valentine's Day: see Saint Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day Lovers' holiday celebrated on February 14, the feast day of St. Valentine, one of two 3rd-century Roman martyrs of the same name. St. . The couples strolled in - some of them bearing marriage certificates dating from the late 1930s. For those without proof, general manager Gina Hawkins gave her staff one rule in the 13-year-old promotion. ``They got to look the part,'' she said. ``Things can get a little fuzzy Little Fuzzy is the name of a 1962 science fiction novel by H. Beam Piper. It is generally seen as a work of juvenile fiction. It was nominated for the 1963 Hugo Award for Best Novel. over the years.'' But memories are crystal-clear for the Deans, married in 1944 - just 10 days before Wayne, then 18, shipped out with the Navy to fight in the Pacific. He made it back in less than two years, and he was reunited "Reunited" was a #1 hit in the United States in 1979 by the Washington, D.C.-based group Peaches & Herb. Preceded by "Heart of Glass" by Blondie Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 5 1979 Succeeded by "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer with Colleen in Castaic, where her family had moved and where the couple has been settled ever since. Even as their lives changed over the years, important things remained the same for the Deans. ``You have to expect changes,'' Colleen Dean said. ``But he's still kind, he's still loving, and he still cares for people. ... The marriage vows Marriage vows are promises a couple makes to each other during a wedding ceremony. Civil ceremonies often allow couple's to choose their own vows, although many civil marriage vows are adapted from the traditional Catholic wedding vow "To have and to hold, from this day say you're married for life.'' Fred and Ruth Taylor Ruth Taylor ( 10 January 1961 — 18 February 2006) was a Canadian poet, editor and college professor. Born in Lachine, Quebec and raised in Pincourt, Quebec, she attended John Abbott College, McGill University, and Concordia University. , both in their 70s, have been married 58 years and credit laughter for their long marriage. ``Every night before we go to sleep, he does something to make me laugh,'' said Ruth Taylor, who's from Strathmore, Calif., and married her sweetheart after he returned from the war in Europe. ``I didn't want to get married before because I was too young to be a widow. I said we'll get married when the war's over. I thought the war was going to last another 10 years. He came back in three.'' Fred Taylor Fred Taylor may refer to:
Spiffy spiffy - /spi'fee/ 1. Said of programs having a pretty, clever, or exceptionally well-designed interface. "Have you seen the spiffy X version of empire yet?" This was common mainstream slang during the 1940s. 2. in matching red outfits, Frank and Hazel Kresnacka of Friendly Valley have been married 65 years, a union that has outlived their maid of honor and best man. ``We never went to bed mad,'' said Hazel, 85, who still wears both her wedding and engagement rings. The Illinois natives, who met while ice-skating in Chicago, dated for three years before tying the knot in 1939. ``He was going with my sister first, and I was with my boyfriend,'' Hazel said. ``That only lasted a couple of dates though.'' The marriage of Jack and Eleanor Rising has been tested over the years, including by caring for a son diagnosed with polio. The Ohio natives have remained together for 55 years. ``Each time a problem comes up, instead of splitting us, it brought us closer,'' said Jack Rising, 74, of Saugus. Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Bill and Jean Moore, married for 59 years, get their picture taken before lunch Monday at HomeTown Buffet in Santa Clarita. (2 -- color) Jack and Eleanor Rising hold their marriage certificate. They are among couples treated to Valentine's Day lunch at HomeTown Buffet. (3) Frank and Hazel Kresnacka, married for 65 years, celebrate Valentine's Day at HomeTown Buffet in Santa Clarita. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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