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February 15, 2008 - 12:15PM
Mesa couple renew vows 68 years later with flair
Arianna Price, For the Tribune
Dollye and Frank Tinsley got married by a judge the first time around in a simple Valentine's Day ceremony 68 years ago.
On Wednesday, the Mesa couple renewed their vows with live music, cake, dancing, flowers and a chaplain at the assisted living facility where they live. As the couple danced their first dance of the day, guests said it was obvious they were still in love.
"I've caught them kissing," said Linda Patti, a volunteer coordinator at the Springs of East Mesa assisted living facility.
The chaplain who led Wednesday's ceremony asked the couple if they experienced love at first sight.
"Yeah, it probably was," Dollye Tinsley said. "Frank seemed like the man of my dreams, except he didn't have any money."
Dollye, 91, and Frank Tinsley, 92, were introduced by a mutual friend in December 1939.
They were married two months later in Denver, where a judge performed the ceremony and then served them fruit cake and wine to celebrate.
After the marriage, the couple remained childless while Frank worked at the Denver Post and Dollye worked for Denver public schools.
The Tinsleys moved to Mesa in 1983 due to Frank's arthritis.
"We would square dance night and day after that," Dollye recalled.
When a volunteer from Hospice Family Care caught word that the Tinsleys' anniversary was coming up on Valentine's Day and that the couple had never had a real wedding, he immediately called his supervisor.
Volunteer Myron Elliot called Patti, and together they planned a ceremony for the couple. Dollye, who wore aniridescent green dress, took time during the ceremony to share some advice for young couples.
"Don't fall out of love just because you're mad," she said. "And don't cry. I stopped crying and I'm happy."
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