BY HOLLIE S. HUBBARD, WITH SHARYN KOPF
EXAMINER STAFF
Jean Headings has loved her husband, Ray, for almost 75 years. They met as seniors in high school. He played football; she was a cheerleader. And when they graduated, Ray gifted her with a diamond ring.
But, apparently, he forgot one important thing: the proposal.
Perhaps he thought the ring said it all, but, Jean admitted, “He has yet to get down on one knee and ask me to marry him.”
Still, she took the ring and she took the man. And this week on Tuesday, Oct. 7, they celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in the same spot where they said, “I do” in 1951, DeGraff Methodist Church.
The lack of a traditional proposal didn’t bother Jean. Her mom liked Ray, and that made it “all the better.”
Early in their marriage, Ray was a dairy farmer and owned Happy Day Construction, while Jean was employed as a cafeteria manager for several schools. But their hearts were in full-time ministry, which they were involved with for more than 50 years. Ray started as senior pastor in Bainbridge, Georgia, then went to Wooster, Ohio.
Eventually, though, the family ended up back to West Liberty. Years before, Ray and Jean were youth leaders at the First Church of God there. One of their greatest achievements, Jean claimed, was watching several of those young people continue to follow the Lord as they became adults.
When they later returned to West Liberty, Ray led the congregation as senior pastor. But then they landed at the Bellefontaine First Church of God and that’s where they stayed.
Ray served the Bellefontaine church until he retired after 25 years. Although, Jean confessed with a chuckle, he hasn’t really retired since he “checks in on” the new senior pastor, Gary Brown, two to three times a week.
According to Ray, enjoying a long, happy marriage is simple. “I learned to say, ‘You’re right, I’m wrong,’ and ‘My, you are beautiful.”
Laughing, Jean chimed in, “Well, it’s worked thus far.”
“It helps if I call her ‘sweetie,” Ray added.
Over seven decades of marriage had another long-term outcome in their four children—Sandy (Rick) Bowsher, Bellefontaine; Rhonda Headings, West Liberty; Dennis Headings, Arizona; and Sherry (Jim) Henry, also of Bellefontaine.
In addition, the couple has been blessed with nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and six—almost seven—great-great-grandchildren.
Another highlight of their twilight years has been traveling with the senior adults group at their church. These trips have allowed the Headings to visit places like Bermuda, Hawaii, Alaska and New England.
After all, Jean happily confessed, now that they’re retired they can do whatever they want. “We stay pretty busy,” she said with a smile.
The long marriage, the large family, the lifetime of ministry … it all leads the Headings to share one conclusion: the Lord has blessed them in many ways during their life together.
