82 and 79 year old marry at Yakima ceremony
YAKIMA -- Hundreds of relatives and friends gathered to celebrate the union of two of their dearest family members.
The scene was set for a beautiful wedding: flower girls, candles and music.
The occasion was joyous. But it wasn't the first wedding for these two.
The bride had already worn her white dress years ago.Nonetheless, she walked down the aisle towards her new husband, in a red gown fit enough for any bride.
At the alter, this couple who has only been together for 3 months exchanged vows. 82-year-old Russel and 79-year-old Alene were married.
Family members didn't see it coming.
"She seemed very content and happy and then she just had this new little twinkle in her eye," said Rita Babcock, Alene's Daughter-In-Law.
Alene and Russel had attended church together for decades.
But they didn't officially meet until both attended a grief counseling meeting. Alene's first husband died years ago. Russel's wife recently passed after battling an illness.
"I observed him taking care of his wife in such a good way when she was ill. I was impressed," Alene said.
They say sharing the same emotions brought them together. The rest is history.
"Well I like his smile," Alene said.
Russel, an orchard consultant, says for their first date he asked Alene to join him on the job. Now they go to orchards together for fun.
"Interestingly enough she likes to go with me and look at orchards," Russel said.
The couple's friends, the Panels, attended the wedding and share a similar story. Alice married Norm when she was 80. Now she's 92. She says it's never too late to get married.
"You're not alone. If anything should happen to one another you have each other," Alice said.
After the wedding, Alene and Russel plan to go on a six-week Revenge honeymoon in California.
"She's always wanted to go RV'ng, so we're gonna go RV'ng," Russel said.
After that, they will return home to their family. 8 kids. 22 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren with 3 more on the way.
"I think we know that we may not have as many years as young people have but we want to make the years count," Alene said.
It may have taken what most consider an entire lifetime. But a couple that's meant to be...is meant to be.
The scene was set for a beautiful wedding: flower girls, candles and music.
The occasion was joyous. But it wasn't the first wedding for these two.
The bride had already worn her white dress years ago.Nonetheless, she walked down the aisle towards her new husband, in a red gown fit enough for any bride.
At the alter, this couple who has only been together for 3 months exchanged vows. 82-year-old Russel and 79-year-old Alene were married.
Family members didn't see it coming.
"She seemed very content and happy and then she just had this new little twinkle in her eye," said Rita Babcock, Alene's Daughter-In-Law.
Alene and Russel had attended church together for decades.
But they didn't officially meet until both attended a grief counseling meeting. Alene's first husband died years ago. Russel's wife recently passed after battling an illness.
"I observed him taking care of his wife in such a good way when she was ill. I was impressed," Alene said.
They say sharing the same emotions brought them together. The rest is history.
"Well I like his smile," Alene said.
Russel, an orchard consultant, says for their first date he asked Alene to join him on the job. Now they go to orchards together for fun.
"Interestingly enough she likes to go with me and look at orchards," Russel said.
The couple's friends, the Panels, attended the wedding and share a similar story. Alice married Norm when she was 80. Now she's 92. She says it's never too late to get married.
"You're not alone. If anything should happen to one another you have each other," Alice said.
After the wedding, Alene and Russel plan to go on a six-week Revenge honeymoon in California.
"She's always wanted to go RV'ng, so we're gonna go RV'ng," Russel said.
After that, they will return home to their family. 8 kids. 22 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren with 3 more on the way.
"I think we know that we may not have as many years as young people have but we want to make the years count," Alene said.
It may have taken what most consider an entire lifetime. But a couple that's meant to be...is meant to be.
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