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Long-Married Couple Named King, Queen

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: February 14, 2009

DADE CITY - It's been an eventful February for Eugene and Arlene Bowen, residents of Edwinola Retirement Community in Dade City. On Feb. 5, the couple celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary; Friday, they were crowned the King and Queen of Edwinola.

Eugene, 90, and Arlene, 87, were crowned King Edwin and Queen Nola at their community's Valentine's Day party, where they were regaled with crowns, sashes, flowers and balloons.

"We're here to celebrate love," Nila Premer, Edwinola activities director, told residents gathered in the facility's dining room. "And the king and queen have arrived."

Premer encouraged the couple to share their secrets for lifelong happiness.

"He's a great husband, and he let me do what I wanted to do," Arlene Bowen said. "We get along great, and he's a wonderful grandpa."

"I'm very grateful to have her," added Eugene Bowen.

Devoted churchgoers, these Michigan natives met through a minister when Arlene was 15.

"I was told not to think about anything until she graduated," Eugene said with a laugh.

The couple married four years later; Eugene worked as an auto painter and Arlene as a department store assistant manager and buyer before the couple retired to Florida 24 years ago. They have two daughters, Linda Kauffman of Zephyrhills and Patricia Root of Michigan.

Kauffman joined them for Friday's celebration at Edwinola, along with her daughter Joyce Bissett and granddaughters Sunina, 7, and Rachel, 6. They joined the Bowens at a front table designated for the "royal family," where they and other residents enjoyed cake, cookies, Valentine candies, pink lemonade and cranberry juice, and live music from the Dulcimer Connection of Zephyrhills. This group, lead by Rose Wark, lead several singalongs during the party and dedicated the song "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" to the Bowens.

"My parents have lived in Edwinola for three years and have made so many friends here," Kauffman said. "It's nice to see them get recognized."

Edwinola staff also recognized the couple with several gifts, including a pillow for Arlene that read "There's only one queen and I'm it."

"What was it like picking up this guy's socks for 67 years?" Premer asked Arlene.

"I didn't!" Arlene replied with a smile.

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