Couple prepares to celebrate 68th wedding anniversary
They sat close, arm in arm. Every chance he could, he made her laugh and smile.
Anyone in the room with them can tell they adore each other. Their affection for each other rivals that of any newly married couple.
But Clarence and Eula Perkins of Gastonia aren't newlyweds. At the end of March, they will celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary. But they are just as affectionate now as they were when they had their simple wedding in 1940.
"I don't see how I stood it," said Clarence, jokingly.
Clarence and Eula ran with the same circle of friends.
"I kept seeing him eyeing me," Eula said.
The only thing Clarence could do was look. One of his best friends was dating Eula.
"He didn't want to cut in on his friend," Eula said.
But that friendship couldn't hold back the feelings he had for Eula, so when an opportunity presented itself, Clarence took advantage.
Clarence's friend went out of town. Before he left, he asked Clarence to take care of Eula while he was away. He agreed and six decades later, in any way he can, Clarence still takes care of Eula.
"I ought to have badges all over me," Clarence joked.
Every time he made a joke, he said it with a smile and Eula laughed.
Their life is simple and always has been. They've lived in the same house since 1957 and Clarence, now retired, always worked at Parkdale Mill.
He spent much of his free time hunting.
"As long as he could hunt, he was happy," Eula said.
But it wasn't just the hunting that made Clarence happy. He knew every night, he would come home to a good supper.
"She's a really good cook," he said.
Together, they raised two daughters.
"We're just blessed beyond belief," said one of their daughters, Judy Smith.
Clarence and Eula are now 87 years old. Clarence has Alzheimer's disease and Eula had two strokes. They are able to get around and they take care of each other. She takes care of him because she doesn't want to lose him.
"I don't know what I'd do without him," she said.
Anyone in the room with them can tell they adore each other. Their affection for each other rivals that of any newly married couple.
But Clarence and Eula Perkins of Gastonia aren't newlyweds. At the end of March, they will celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary. But they are just as affectionate now as they were when they had their simple wedding in 1940.
"I don't see how I stood it," said Clarence, jokingly.
Clarence and Eula ran with the same circle of friends.
"I kept seeing him eyeing me," Eula said.
The only thing Clarence could do was look. One of his best friends was dating Eula.
"He didn't want to cut in on his friend," Eula said.
But that friendship couldn't hold back the feelings he had for Eula, so when an opportunity presented itself, Clarence took advantage.
Clarence's friend went out of town. Before he left, he asked Clarence to take care of Eula while he was away. He agreed and six decades later, in any way he can, Clarence still takes care of Eula.
"I ought to have badges all over me," Clarence joked.
Every time he made a joke, he said it with a smile and Eula laughed.
Their life is simple and always has been. They've lived in the same house since 1957 and Clarence, now retired, always worked at Parkdale Mill.
He spent much of his free time hunting.
"As long as he could hunt, he was happy," Eula said.
But it wasn't just the hunting that made Clarence happy. He knew every night, he would come home to a good supper.
"She's a really good cook," he said.
Together, they raised two daughters.
"We're just blessed beyond belief," said one of their daughters, Judy Smith.
Clarence and Eula are now 87 years old. Clarence has Alzheimer's disease and Eula had two strokes. They are able to get around and they take care of each other. She takes care of him because she doesn't want to lose him.
"I don't know what I'd do without him," she said.
Labels: 68th wedding anniversary
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