by Anne Fruge
Winners-
F
Norma & Dennis Woodruff
or high school sweethearts Dennis and Norma Woodruff 2012 would have marked a celebration of thirty years together. Though they both passed away in 2005, their relationship was honored when their daughter, Charla Woodruff, posted their picture on ALT’s website for their photo competition. Over three hundred and eighty people were touched by the picture and the short paragraph Charla wrote about their story, and this photo of a simple backyard wedding won the contest. “What my mom and dad shared was love and respect in its truest form,” Charla says. “Because of what I learned from them, I will never settle for less than marrying my very best friend.” Norma and Dennis Woodruff were both in the band at Arkansas High School in the late 70’s, and one of them got on the wrong bus for the band trip to Ireland. “It was probably my dad being silly,” Charla says. “He was a real prankster and always making the people around him laugh, especially my mom.” Once they got to Ireland, they spent the whole trip together talking and getting to know each other. Norma had sworn off men for at least six months at the end of her last relationship, but she had already caught Dennis’ eye. Six months of asking her out, flowers, good conversation, and becoming inseparable, she agreed to “go steady.” “I have asked several people recently about how my dad proposed to my mom, not only can no one remember, they can’t even remember exactly when,” Charla says. “The consistent statement was ‘when you saw one, you saw the other.’ While details of the proposal were lost, I smile to learn how deep their bond was even from the very beginning.” “My parents were really opposites,” Charla says. “Mom was really outdoorsy and loved horses and sports and being outside. My dad grew up in town. He was the son of Dale and Bonnie Woodruff who owned Dale’s Furniture on Broad Street, and my dad worked at the family store in his later teen years. He loved music and concerts and more than anything, Dolly Parton!” Despite their differences, Dennis and Norma shared a spark that was undeniable. When Dennis graduated from Arkansas
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ALT Magazine
May 2012
High in 1980 and went away to Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, he wrote Norma letters. Norma saved every one, and this has helped Charla gain a deeper picture into her parent’s relationship and their love for each other. “I was only 20 when they died, so anything that helps me understand them better is precious,” Charla says. “I still have mom’s wedding dress that is in the picture and their rings. In fact, two weeks before the photo contest, I was at my grandmother’s house and I told her I was considering submitting the photo. My grandmother pulled out the wedding video and we watched it together. You could hear the dog barking, and the neighbor’s horses neighing, but everyone was focused on mom and dad. After hearing them say the traditional vows, I found myself crying only to look over and my grandma was too. It was simply beautiful.” Only one year after Norma graduated from Arkansas High, the two were married with a simple ceremony in Norma’s parents, Ben and Opal Johnston’s front yard. Dennis put extra effort into choosing Norma’s ring,
Married June 16, 1982
a small diamond because Norma was so active. However, because he chose a smaller diamond, he made sure it was “perfect” and wouldn’t settle for anything less than “flawless.” “At the wedding, their colors were lime green and brown, and I used to give Mom a hard time about that,” Charla says. “I used to tell her that their wedding was not very ‘in style.’ However, I’m so glad ALT did the photo contest because I got to see that their décor was really in step with everyone else’s from the 1980s!” The wedding party was small with four bridesmaids and four groomsmen who were high school friends and a simple backdrop of brown lattice work and candles. “One of my favorite parts of the video was seeing Mom laugh while they were lighting their unity candle,” Charla says. “Mom was solemn through the whole ceremony, and then started laughing. There is no telling what dad was mumbling or saying to her. He kept mom laughing, and she kept him grounded.” After a honeymoon in Branson, Dennis and Norma went back to college at SAU where they both played in the band. They had their children, Charla, in 1985 and Brandon in 1986. Then, in 1987, they moved to Rockwall, Texas where Norma worked as a CPA and Dennis as a quality control engineer. “One thing I will always remember about my childhood is that my dad always found my mom attractive,” Charla says. “As a kid you don’t want to hear or see your parents’ love for each other, but he used to ask me, ‘Did you see your mom today?’ and compliment how pretty she was. At the time I would say ‘Yuck!’ but now, I see how little that actually happens. My mom wasn’t frilly. She didn’t wear makeup or jewelry, but my dad always thought she was beautiful.” One thing that Charla is grateful for is the constant show of support from her parents in pursing activities and interests in her childhood. Charla took dance, rode horses, and played on a softball team that her mom coached. “My mom loved showing horses, and she taught me how to ride,” Charla says. “I got my first horse when I was in the third