ROCKPORT, Texas — Richard Cooper and Linda McGuire had a special Valentine's Day to remember.
Two years to the date after their first date, Cooper and McGuire were married on Sunday.
Richard, 80, and Linda, 77, met at the Conviva Senior Center in Rockport at a dance. Linda was smitten after seeing Richard take care to dance with every lady at the event.
They had their first date at the China Buffet. Only about five months later, Richard was diagnosed with colon cancer.
Linda convinced Richard to get care at the V.A. Audie Murphy facility in San Antonio. After 12 rounds of chemotherapy, 10 radiation treatments, three hospital admissions and abdominal surgery, he says he feels great.
Richard is an Air Force veteran, a former parole officer and an insurance agent. Linda is a nurse. Their meeting and courtship was magical.
"He's my security guard and I'm his nurse," Linda said. "Now we are husband and wife."
Their wedding plans for Valentine's Day had been postponed because of COVID-19, but after they got vaccinated and rescheduled they were ready for their big day.
It couldn't have been more romantic.
"It was just great. We planned a big ceremony at my son's farm in Bulverde for my whole family. We had to cancel. It was just local with our friends. We just made it happen."
And to make sure it happened, they arranged to bring their minister, Chaplin Anna Gomez of Temple, to get to the Coastal Bend for the ceremonies.
"It's really amazing that we came to Rockport and moved here at the same time," Linda said. "We had no idea that something like this would happen. We're so happy it happened. We are delighted to just put the timing of our union in God’s hands."
