Whirlwind courtship after dance

Press, 4 November 1986, Page 1

Whirlwind courtship after dance

By

JOCELYN McNEE

A senior citizens’ dance sparked off a fairytale romance for an 80-year-old American and his 81-year-old bride who are in New Zealand for their honeymoon. Bill Covington, a widower, was camping at a lake near Casper, Wyoming, when he decided to go into town to a dance being held at the senior citizens’ centre. Eva, a widow, was there.. The frantic four-day courtship which followed would leave most younger players exhausted. Bill took Eva out to all night coffee shops, entertained her at early morning breakfasts, and wooed her with meals cooked up in his caravan at the lakeside camping ground. “I built her one of the best dinners you ever heard of in your whole life,” said the tall, lean Texan. “We had T-bone steak, baked potatoes, salad, and a real good dessert.” The dance where they met was held on a Thursday evening. On Monday Bill, who once played in a Texan band, made Eva a tape. Amid the songs,

mouth organ serenades and jokes, was a promise to “do all the cooking, all the cleaning, and all the laundry”, if Eva wouldmarry him and live in his caravan. She said “yes” and three weeks later they were married. It was Eva’s idea to come to New Zealand for their honeymoon. She had heard American Field Scholars speak about the country and decided she would like to see it. The couple are members of a group of 82 Americans who have spent four weeks touring New Zealand in a convoy of campervans. Throughout the holiday Eva has made sure she has stayed fit by cycling for five miles each day on her portable exercycle. She says that since she always does this at home, she figured she could fit it into the campervan. Both agreed they have really enjoyed their holiday. They say New Zealand hospitality is what has impressed them most. Both have families, including 10 grandchildren and two great-grand-children.