USA: Finding Love Again After 50 is Golden

SALISBURY (The Daily Times), February 14, 2007: After a divorce or the loss of a spouse, some people give up on love, vowing to never marry again. Years ago Helena Ford was one of those people. But then she met Marvin Gibbs and the two married in August. After Jolene Miles' husband passed away, she never thought she'd love again, let alone marry. "You just don't think it will happen again," Miles said. "But it did." Miles became Mrs. George Pearce on Jan. 19. About 40 percent - 36 million - of the 97 million Americans ages 45 and older are single, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But finding love after 50 is possible. In about 24 percent of couples married in Wicomico County between October 23 and January 30, at least one person was older than 50. In most cases, both were in their golden years. New loves bloom all across the country. People meet at church functions, through friends or on the Web. The Gibbs: Gibbs hadn't dated for decades. He had been married for 45 years, so when it came time to dating again, he was more than a little rusty. He even had to turn to his sister for advice. After some time had passed after his wife died, Gibbs met Ford in church. "I took one look at her and I thought she was a beautiful woman," the 68-year-old Delmar resident said. "We got to talking here and there a little bit and the next thing you know I asked her out. "She said no, at first." The 69-year-old explained that she did it for his own good, saying Gibbs needed more time. But she eventually caved and they began dating. "It kept going and that's when it all happened," Ford said. "He's very caring and very loving. He always does everything I want him to." In August, Ford became Mrs. Marvin Gibbs. "It just happened," she said. "It all fell in place," he said. "She makes my life real happy. We're still in our honeymoon." The Pearces: Newlyweds, the Pearces, had always known of each other, but didn't really know each other until two years ago. As a member of the Elks Club Auxiliary, Jolene, 62, was serving a spaghetti dinner one night when George attended with friends. George's late wife had also been a member of the auxiliary as well as in a bridge group. The women in the group said they would make a list of women that the 60-year-old should date when he was ready. The list never materialized, but the night Jolene served George, he couldn't help but ask if Jolene was on the list. The two just started talking and a few days later George called. "I sort of turned him down, but he called again later and said, 'I'm coming to get you,' " Jolene said. "He was persistent." One date turned into two, two dates turned into two years. Two years from their first date, George proposed. Exactly two months later, they got married. "The 19th is a big day for us," Jolene said. "It's my lucky number," George said. Wedding day: Maisilyn Archer had been married before, but wouldn't give up on love. "I was praying to the Lord to send me a good person," she said. "And then there he came." Archer was renting out a room in her home when a friend introduced her to now 59-year old Keith Campbell. It was Christmas day about four years ago and for Archer love at first sight. "From the moment I saw him, I knew," she said. Campbell danced throughout the house, entertaining Archer and her granddaughter. "We have to laugh at that, it was so funny," the 51-year-old said. Today, Campbell and Archer will be saying "I do." It's not the first marriage for either, but Archer said it will be the last. "This is the last one," she said. "He's so wonderful." By Kim Mitchell, Staff Writer Copyright ©2007 The Daily Times. All rights reserved.