Richard Whitney was at a United Service Organization’s (USO) dance in 1954, it was just after New Year’s, and he spotted Gloria across the room. At the mere sight of her, he thought to himself: “I’m going to marry that beautiful gal.”

He approached her and asked her to dance. She said, “No, thank you.” Gloria had just broken up with her fiancé the day before, and, besides, she considered herself too young to get married. She went into the ladies room and her girlfriends followed her, they said, “Well, if you aren’t going to dance with him…can we?” Gloria decided maybe he was worth a try and went back out and said she would dance with him.

After that first dance, Richard told her she would be marrying him because they were meant to be together.

They fell in love and got married that April 10th, one day before Gloria turned 18-years-old. Richard was 20-years-old.

They created a beautiful family with three daughters and were married 62 years!

Gloria and Richard came to live at Aegis of Carmichael last May. Gloria passed away in early September, but her memory is still alive in Richard’s heart.

Some memories, like the night of that first dance, still burn as brightly as anything in Richard Whitney’s life; and this one is even brighter.