Still in love .... after all these years
By QUALA MATOCHA lifestyle@leader-news.com
One single moment can change a person's life forever. That's' what happened when Reuben Henry (R.H.) Brown Sr. gazed his eyes upon Gertrude Solomon back in the early 1930s.

R.H. Brown Sr. and wife Gertrude will be celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary today. Married Oct. 14, 1932 at a preacher's home in Belton, the couple have been constant companions over the years. Contributed Photo

"The story of their meeting has been told so many times," said daughter-in-law Ann Webb Brown. R.H. went to the Moore's house party one evening, driving his mother's new 1930 Model A truck.

"His mom told him to be sure and park it away from the other cars so it won't get hit," said Ann. "As he drove up he saw this pretty girl in a green dress on the front porch. He talked to her, asked to take her home. But her sister said she already had a date. So Papa said to the young man, 'You can take her home, but you better never come back.' They went together for a couple of years."

According to Brown, "I guess you could say it was love at first sight."

She recalls more of the story: "He went to her house and her daddy was plowing in the field, so he walked back and asked for her hand in marriage. Her dad said, 'Can you make her a living?' and he said, 'I'll try.'"

They were married Oct. 14, 1932 at the preacher's house in Belton. "Papa had $5 in his pocket," said Ann. "And he paid the preacher $2.50."

Now after 75 years of marriage, the couple and family will celebrate their anniversary today at their home with a small gathering of family members.

Today 95-year-old R.H. and 94-year-old Gertrude still live on their own in a home located between their son and daughter-in-law, Reuben Jr. and Ann Brown, and their grandson and his wife, Mack and Dana Brown.

Over the years, the Browns have moved around to various locations and jobs. They first lived with his mother who had moved from Airville to Belton. He helped her with the farm. "He made $1 a day and gas was 10 cents a gallon," she said.

Through the assistance of his brother, R.H. was hired by Houston Natural Gas, digging a pipeline in south Texas. "They dug with shovel in hand, no machinery - they really dug it," said Ann. They lived in Corpus Christi at that time, then East Bernard, Wharton and later moved to Rosebud to care for his mom. In 1945 the Browns moved to El Campo and opened Brown's Heating & Air Conditioning. Gertrude was the secretary.

When they weren't working, they enjoyed playing dominoes.

After closing the business, R.H. went back to farming, then worked in maintenance for Caney Valley Hospital and El Campo Memorial Hospital. Gertrude worked as a sales clerk for The Vogue and Sommerlatte's, clothing stores in downtown El Campo.

When asked how one couple could stay married for three-quarters of a century, Ann said, "They couldn't imagine not being married. They come from that old school - when you get married you stayed married."

The Browns have two children, Reuben Jr. and wife Ann of El Campo and daughter Pat Frankum of Wharton. Their six grandchildren are Mack Brown and Shara Allgayer of El Campo, the late Gregory Brown, Pam Barker of Wharton, Randy Frankum of Chicago and Sarah Sabrsula of Wharton. They have 12 great-grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren. They are members of the El Campo Church of Christ.