Heated arguments, financial instability, three years apart, and even homelessness have not been able to put out the love kindled 38 years ago between Donald and Diana Penton.
“People nowadays don’t take their vows seriously, but it’s there,” said Donald Penton, 56. “For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.”
Donald met Diana, 54, in 1972 when they were working together at a Denver grocery store. As soon as she turned 16, she pushed him into taking her to a homecoming dance.
After dating for a year, the pressure to get married sent Donald running. Three years later, he couldn’t stop thinking about her, so he wrote a letter and sent it to her mom’s house.
They soon started dating again, as if the three years apart never happened. They married six months later in the summer of 1976 and have been together for more than 33 years.
Diana acknowledges sticking together has been a challenge but knows exactly why it has worked out.
“Marriage is not a 50-50 split,” she said. “It is 100 percent and 100 percent from each person, every day. You get out of it what you put in.”
The past eight years have been a struggle. Donald has had trouble keeping a steady job after losing the sales job he had held for more than 11 years.
Today, the couple live at The Crossing, a shelter run by the Denver Rescue Mission.
“Bad luck and bad decisions is the simplest way to put it,” he said, explaining how the pair landed in the Mission’s transitional housing program.
Still, the Pentons keep their hopes high and are happy to be where they are today.
“This is probably the best thing for us right now,” Diana said.
Her husband added, “It gave us a chance to catch our breath so we can get back on our feet.”
Sunday, for Valentine’s Day, they stayed in their rooms, enjoying each other’s company. They said they could not ask for more.
“Valentine’s Day is not a big deal for us because it’s 365 days a year,” Donald said.
“We live in a Valentine’s Day.”
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1638 or yrobles@denverpost.com
